“Nigeria Has More School Closures for Christendom Than for Islam” – Reno Omokri Urges Christian Groups to Avoid Legal Disputes Over Ramadan School Closures

Public commentator and former presidential aide Reno Omokri has called on Christian groups in Nigeria, particularly the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), to avoid legal disputes over the temporary closure of schools in some northern states during the ongoing Ramadan fasting period.

In a statement shared on his Instagram page, Omokri cautioned that opposing these closures could lead to reciprocal actions from Islamic groups. He argued that historically, Nigeria has had more school holidays benefiting Christian traditions than Islamic ones, a legacy of colonial influences.

He pointed out that Nigerian schools observe Easter breaks, Christmas holidays, and New Year celebrations, aligning with the British-style Christian calendar. Despite this, he noted, Muslims in the country have accepted these closures without contention. Additionally, he highlighted that while Islamic nations typically designate Friday as a non-working day, Nigeria follows a Monday-to-Friday workweek, which also aligns with Christian traditions.

Omokri emphasized that these arrangements are not rooted in precolonial Nigerian culture but were imposed through Western influences. He urged Christian groups to recognize the sacrifices Muslims have made in adapting to this structure and to allow northern states, where Muslims form a majority, to adjust their school calendars accordingly.

He advised that if CAN or any other Christian organization wishes to engage in the matter, it should do so through peaceful dialogue rather than legal threats, cautioning against adopting a confrontational stance similar to that of groups like MURIC.

Omokri also noted that the affected states are within their constitutional rights, as education falls under the concurrent list of the 1999 Constitution. He further questioned the silence of Christian groups on the long-standing issue of schools being shut for 54 Mondays each year in certain parts of the country, implying that consistency should be maintained in addressing such matters.