By Ayodele Oni
Middle Belt Forum (MBF), has described closure of public and private schools in some northern states during Ramadan as “Boko Haram’s ideology,” which opposes Western education.
The group, which protested against the decision, in certain Sharia-practicing states of Northern Nigeria, also termed it as regressive directive.
Some of the states which have sent students on compulsory holiday due to Ramadan include Bauchi, Kano, and Kebbi, some of which are bona fide parts of the Middle Belt.
The forum therefore tasked the rest of Nigeria not to take the directive lightly, stressing that it is becoming evident that the Sharia states are gradually distancing themselves from Nigeria’s secular framework.
A statement by Luka Binniyat, Spokesperson of the Middle Belf Forum, noted that the action served as a stark confirmation of the long-standing fears among non-Muslims in the affected states—that the implementation of Sharia does not differentiate between Muslims and non-Muslims.
“It is deeply unjust that non-Muslim students and pupils should suffer significant setbacks in their education simply because Muslims in these states wish to fulfill their religious obligations.
“While these students remain at home, their counterparts in other parts of the country will continue attending classes and tutorials, preparing for national examinations that all students must sit for.
“This development further justifies the persistent calls by the Middle Belt Forum and the Southern Forum for the restructuring of Nigeria.
“The urgency of this need grows as we continue to witness increasing intolerance toward the collective liberty and freedom of non-Muslims in these states.”
The Forum called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to exercise his authority to prevent the states from descending into religious fundamentalism, saying that had former President Olusegun Obasanjo firmly asserted that Nigeria and all its federating units must remain a secular state, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, such issues might never have arisen.
The MBF urged President to learn from this precedent and take a firm stand to safeguard the rights and privileges of all non-Muslims against the oppressive effects of Sharia-based policies.
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