A Muslim group, the Da’awah Co-ordination Council of Nigeria (DCCN), has decried the clash of Ramadan fasting with camping exercise. It warned that failure to shift camping exercise during the fasting period might result to boycotting the exercise or any other national activity, which involves Muslims’ participation.
The group, therefore, called on both the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) and Nigerian Army to suspend the upcoming camp drilling exercise during the Ramadan.
It said the exercise would be unbearable for Muslims fasting, considering the harshness of weather in some areas like Sokoto, Maiduguri and Adamawa. In a statement co-signed by its National President, Muhammad Lawal Maidoki and National Secretary-General, Mr. Ahmad M.Y. Jumba, the group said, among others:
“The council finds it imperative to issue this statement due to insensitivity of the government and its agencies on national programmes and activities that concern all Nigerians; a typical example is the 76th Nigerian Army regular recruit intake, zonal screening exercise from May 27 to June 9, 2017 during Ramadan.
“Similarly, the NYSC is holding another orientation camp from May 27 to June 17, 2017. This action will subject the Muslim candidates and corps members to unnecessary hardship and divert the required attention of every Muslim in Ramadan of spiritual attention/dedication.
“Therefore, we call on the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to immediately prevail on the Nigerian Army and the NYSC to stop the camps and shift the dates till after Ramadan.
“Failure to do so, may lead to advising Muslim leadership in Nigeria to call on Muslims to boycott the camps and any other national activity of this nature that involves Muslims in Nigeria in Ramadan.
“We equally call on the leadership of the National Assembly to halt the camp and call to order the leadership of the Nigerian Army and the NYSC. “Furthermore, we are using this medium to call on all paramilitary outfits and MDAs of the country to respect Muslim rights and values in the interest of peace and harmony. Even in the western countries where Muslims are minorities, their rights are respected and protected,” the statement added.
