RABIUL AWWAL 1440AH PRESS RELEASE
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, wishes to inform the Nigerian Muslim Ummah that there was positive sighting of the crescent of Rabiul Awwal, 1440AH on the 29th of Safar, 1440AH, equivalent to 8th November, 2018. Therefore, Thursday, 8Th November, 2018 was the last day of Safar, 1440AH.
In line with the above, His Eminence, the President-General of NSCIA and Sultan of Sokoto, has approved Friday, 9th of November, 2018 as the 1st day of Rabiul Awwal, 1440AH.
The Council hereby enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to continue to promote peaceful coexistence and unity among all the citizens of the country.
Signed
Prof. Salisu Shehu
Deputy Secretary-General
NSCIA
KADUNA FURY: WE ARE DISTURBED
Once again, national and international radio waves throbbed with disturbing news of an outbreak of crisis in Kaduna, the capital city of Kaduna State. The crisis was said to have consumed about 55 lives with scores of people sustaining injuries.
The immediate cause of the crisis that was said to have spilled to areas like Mararrabar Rido and spilled to Sabon Tasha and Tudun Wada Central Market on Sunday, October 21, 2018, still remains foggy but reports indicated that it actually started on Friday, October 19, 2018, at Kasuwar Magani area. The new dimension of the crisis, this time, was so fierce that a 24-hour curfew had to be declared by the State Government in the city. This means that no resident or visitor in the troubled area would be able to go out of his/her lodge either in pursuit of business or even health maintenance.
Besides, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) had reportedly mobilized some scores of special anti-riot and anti-terrorism forces to the State to tame the rage of disharmony and quench the fury of anger. Whatever might have caused this latest crisis and whatever investigations are to follow must not be an immediate matter of concern for the authorities now. The immediate concern should be the taming of the proverbial shrew that is bent on sucking the blood of humans and ruining the sources of economy.
SAFAR 1440AH PRESS RELEASE
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, wishes to inform the Nigerian Muslim Ummah that there was no positive sighting of the crescent of Safar, 1440AH on the 29th of Muharram, 1440AH, equivalent to 9th of October, 2018. Therefore, Wednesday, 10th October, 2018 is the last day of Muharam, 1440AH.
In line with the above, His Eminence, the President-General of NSCIA and Sultan of Sokoto, has approved Thursday, 11th of October, 2018 as the 1st day of Safar, 1440AH.
The Council hereby enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to continue to promote peaceful coexistence and unity among all the citizens of the country.
Signed
Prof. Salisu Shehu
Deputy Secretary-General
NSCIA
KUKAH’S VIRULENT INTOLERANCE AND SELECTIVE AMNESIA
That one of the major problems assailing Nigeria as a corporate entity is situated within the religious and pseudo-religious elite is a fact that does not require any shred of evidence to the discerning.
Nothing illustrates the foregoing submission more than the usual hoopla from the stable of a supposed Christian cleric and public intellectual, Matthew Hassan Kukah, who has a penchant for heating the polity with his bigoted premises and warped conclusions. The context of his latest misguided vituperations was the book launch organised by Premium Times Books last Wednesday in Abuja, as reported by the online newspaper in the story, “Christians not allowed places of worship in some northern tertiary institutions” on August 16, 2018.
According to Premium Times, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto characteristically berated Muslims generally and Northern Muslims in particular that they orientate their children to be violent. He falsely claimed that Christians are not allowed places of worship in northern higher institutions and he invoked the same mantra of marginalisation that has been used, abused and overused by dissident groups and political desperadoes.