More and more Nigeri­ans have expressed support for Christian leaders who have pro­tested the shutdown of schools in Bauchi, Kaduna, Katsina, and Kebbi states by the government because of the Ramadan fast.

They are worried that the long break in study would further affect school children in these states that already contribute to 40 percent of school dropouts, especially as about 11 million children are affected by the five-week closure.

Expressing his concern over the development, Apostle Dr. Kanayo Success Uchime, a mis­sionary and teacher, told Sunday Independent that shutting down schools for five weeks by these state governors for the purpose of Ramadan is unacceptable to a rational mind.

Apostle Uchime, President, Kingdom Missions Outreach (KMO), asked: “What is the ra­tionale for such public holidays?

“For goodness sake, there are specific days set aside by the Federal Government for the holi­days. Why extend it? Who are the governors of those states trying to please?

“They have no justification whatsoever to declare such a number of days as public holi­days just for Ramadan celebra­tion.

“If education is their focal point, they would have applied caution. In actual fact, there is the need for us to take education seriously in this country.

“Proper attention should be paid to education. If we fail to do that, at the end, the students will be deficient. This ultimately will lead to a very poor performance on the part of the children.”

Utase Joseph Utase, an edu­cational consultant, said: “The decision to shut schools for five weeks in Bauchi, Kaduna, Katsi­na, and Kebbi during Ramadan is a reckless attack on education.

“These states already contrib­ute to 40 percent of school drop­outs, and now, 11 million children face further academic setbacks.

“This move prioritises reli­gious observance over education, ignoring the long-term damage to literacy, opportunities, and na­tional development.

“It also disregards the con­cerns of the Christian Associa­tion of Nigeria (CAN), highlight­ing a troubling bias.

“Leaders should be fighting illiteracy, not enabling it. If they refuse to reverse this decision, they are actively sabotaging the future of millions of children.”

Julius Adegunna, a media executive, stated: “The action is another embarrassment from the north.

“Here is the part of the country that is not contributing enough and the governors are there to cry about getting the bigger chunk of the cake.

“At the end of the day, it is their children that would not be able to meet the standard of WAEC, JAMB and other inde­pendent examination bodies.

“It is their leaders who would be crying that their children should have preferential consid­erations in admission and job recruitment.

“This shows how Northern governors care less about their children and the future of their people.

“They can better allow the students to go for their studies in the morning and return early in the day to rest and meet their religious obligations.”

Rev Dr Felix Nwosu, a Church leader, stated: “In my humble opinion, the action of these state governors shows that religious institutions in that part of the country are dominant, manipu­lating and deciding what goes on in their states.

“They are so powerful that the state governors do not have a say in those states. This is really an unfortunate and disturbing sit­uation.

“Look at states that shut down institutions like government schools for a whole month just to carry out religious activities.

“This is really unfortunate and laughable. Do those states have regard for the future of their children?

“Religion only teaches moral principles, while schools teach children skills. No wonder school products are skilful in nature.

“With what is happening, such children and young ones who are being deprived of edu­cation will resort to menial jobs. Majority of them will become labourers.

“These governors are not bothered at all because they have indoctrinated these children reli­giously. This is really an unfortu­nate situation.

“No wonder they are calling for Sharia laws in these states, turning these states to religious enclaves.

“To me, this action should be declared illegal by the Federal Government because there are other religions in these areas.

Dr Rexkennedy Saltlove, a human rights activist, said the action of these governors leaves a lot to be desired.

Dr Saltlove, President/Execu­tive Director, Citizens Rights and Empowerment Advocacy Initia­tive (CREMA Initiative), stated: “If there is one thing, prayers have helped Nigeria to achieve, it is making us not to be another Sudan in Africa.

“This is because actions like this amount to weaponising reli­gion and it infringes on the fun­damental rights of many.

“Honestly, it is good that these governors are being investigat­ed by Interpol and DSS to know their religious leaning and who funded their political careers that is making them tilt towards ex­tremism and getting involved in actions capable of destabilising the peaceful equilibrium of our coexistence.

“They are deliberately pun­ishing the children of others, while their school abroad, or have graduated from school.

“Saudi Arabia, which is the headquarters where most of these governors go on pilgrim­ages, does not close down their schools because of Ramadan.

“These four states are among the 10 most backward states in literacy. Starting from the rear is Katsina having just 21.7% liter­ate persons, second after Borno. Kebbi is fifth with 25.3%; Kaduna seventh with 29.3% and Bauchi with 34.1%.

STALKED BY MULTIDIMEN­SIONAL POVERTY

“When you talk of multi-di­mensional poverty, Kebbi is sev­enth with 82.2%; Bauchi is 13th with 73.9%; Kaduna is 14th with 73.9%; Katsina 15th with 72.7% among the states in Nigeria, ac­cording to The Cable Index.

“Kebbi and Bauchi are among the top 10 poorest and literacy backward states in Nigeria.

“These four states are from the most volatile area prone to terrorism making Nigeria to be among the top six countries in Global Terrorism Index (GTI).

“I will appeal that the Federal Government overrule these ac­tions that infringe on the funda­mental rights to knowledge and information.

“Their action is inimical to the intellectual and psychologi­cal wellbeing of these children.”

Dr Victor Mathew, a cleric and security expert said that it is unfortunate that some state governments have weaponised religion, using it as a political tool to keep their people in perpetual bondage.

Dr. Victor, a social advocate and the Executive Director, King­dom Advocacy Network (KAN), stated: “Shutting schools for five weeks is very unfortunate. It is a retrogressive, retarding and stag­nating policy. It is purely political.

“It is also an infringement on the rights of non-Muslims in those states, depriving them of the right to education. You can­not because of your religious exercise stop others from exer­cising their liberty to pursue knowledge.

“Some of those states who are shutting down schools for Rama­dan are backward and education­ally disadvantaged states.

“Instead of implementing forward looking education pol­icies, they are busy stagnating education. How come not all the northern states are involved in this madness.

“Ironically, even Sokoto, which is the seat of the Caliph­ate, did not shut down schools.”