Hijrah 1443: Oyo Govt Declares Tuesday Public Holiday, To Commemorate The Islamic New Year As Some Other States Observe Monday
The Oasis Reporters
August 8 2021
The government of Oyo State has announced Tuesday, August 10, 2021 as a public holiday, to commemorate and celebrate the new Islamic calendar year, 1st Muharram (Hijrah) 1443 AH.
This is contained in a circular letter from the Office of the Secretary to the Oyo State Government, made available to newsmen in Ibadan, on Friday.
The circular, dated August 6, 2021 and signed by the SSG, Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun, was titled: “Declaration of work-free day to mark Hijrah 1443 AH.
The circular read in part: “Gov. Seyi Makinde, enjoined all and sundry to use the occasion to pray for the peace, unity and sustainability of the state in particular and the country in general.”
Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State has equally declared a public holiday in commemoration of the Islamic new year on Monday, unlike Oyo that pencilled in Tuesday, as the state kick starts it’s Oyo Sate residents registration exercise.
Kebbi Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state in Nigeria’s north west also declared Monday as a public holiday to enable the Muslims in the state to join other faithful across the world to mark the commencement of the Islamic New Year.
So has Jigawa State and neighboring Kano State.
The Islamic calendar is approximately 11 days shorter than the solar. Gregorian calendar runs for 354 or 355 days.
However, the holiday will not be declared in States like Delta, Anambra as well as other states in the Niger Delta region and the Eastern States where the population of Muslims do not predominate.
Western Nigeria is roughly divided between adherents of the two major religions, yet they live in harmony devoid of any religious crisis unlike most northern States of Nigeria where religious crises remain endemic.
