Posted on July 26, 2023 by an editor, Kemi Kasumu was an article titled, “Your criticism of declaration of Muharram 1 public holiday ignorance, Prof Davies told,” for which I’ll like to further air my opinion, it’s no need crying more than the bereaved and still keep ranting, I recon Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies was just concerned, “how some students would be in lecture while others would be on holiday.”

“Opinion is a cheap commodity that everyone and everybody on earth can afford” they say, so why would a Professor of Applied Linguistics with specialisation in Communication Arts like Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, in a specialised University be shut down on speaking on state and national issues in Nigeria, not even on international issues would she not air her views in her enviable pedigree.

Adesanya-Davies, a proud daughter and Princess of IRA and Kwara State we all know is not only a practicing seasoned freelance journalist but also a public and political commentator. A former female presidential candidate of the federal republic that Kwara and Nigeria have always been proud of, Prof. PMA as fondly called by her students and admirers has never failed in contributing her quoter to both national and international issues as expected when duty calls.

Her educational background and career reveal Prof. Mercy Olufunmilayo Adesanya-Davies, obtained her B.A (Ife), M.A English (Ilorin), Ph.D Applied Linguistics & Communication Studies and P.G.D.E (Port Harcourt). She also has a second Ph.D in Clinical Linguistics and Phycology at Brooklyn outstanding University, TBU-GE, New York, USA, where she now serves as an adjunct professor and consultant. She is also an awardee of several Doctor of Divinity (D.D) in about five (5) International Universities in both UK and USA.

The don, academic and educational consultant, is a Linguist, a Poet, Educationist, Activist and an expert in the field of communication studies who has lectured in Nigerian and other Universities abroad for about four (decades) and it’s so myopic, crude and too late to call for her disengagement in youth mentorship which she has literally accomplished as a life venture.

Princess Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies is an household name in annals of Nigerian politics. In fact, one would recall, that was why the National Association of Nigeria (NANS) while giving her an Award of Long Service and Outstanding Leadership, in 2018 pointed out that, “The Award was in recognition of her invaluable contributions to youth empowerment, excellence in service and outstanding leadership over the years Adesanya-Davies was honored with NANS most Outstanding Leadership Award of that year for Nigerian lecturers in 2018.

The news further reads, “The umbrella body of the nation’s students’ unions, NANS had also expressed their support for the presidential ambition of Prof. ‘Funmilayo Adesanya- Davies in the nation, in a report by Steve Oni in Our Reporter on June 10, 2018.”

Adesanya-Davies fondly known by her students as PMA commended the students body for the gesture and urged them to remain dedicated, studious and law abiding at all times; while dedicating the award to the Almighty God who gave her the privilege. Princess Mercy said, she is now more determined to continue to serve the youths and the entire nation as a whole.

Dio Alabo at the same ceremony said, “the Niger Delta Students Union Government (NDSUG) had endorsed the aspiration of Adesanya-Davies, as President in 2019. Comrade Dio Alabo, at the ceremony declared,

“We the Niger Delta Student’s Union Government, with all honesty and sincerity wishes to declare our support towards Princess Adesanya-Davies’s aspiration as the next President of the nation. Our declaration is based on merit, viewing your continuous fostering of well being of students. We know with you as Nigerian President, education will attain its fullest position in the nation, among other strides and development.”

Similarly of resent, the National Association of Northern Nigeria Students (NANNS) had honoured Ambassador Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies with Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna Platinum Distinguish Leadership Award of 2022 edition.

However, in an interview in Ilorin, one Alhaji Is-haq Abdul-Karim, had declared, “the criticism from one Prof Funmilayo Adesanya Davies
as baseless, uncharitable and condemnable. Saying, “He wondered what is her concern with, “a public holiday for Muslims, who have endured the imposition of 1st January as a public holiday by Christian colonial masters on the Muslims in Nigeria for more than 63 years.”

“He described her reaction as vituperation and negative on the matter, that it’s as a sign of religious intolerance and fanaticism accusing her of causing trouble. Adding, “She smacks ‘unnecessary envy and hatred for Muslims out of religious fanaticism and parochialism”. Alhaji Abdulkarim also wrongly depicting her negatively therefore summarily described her writing as, “the ranting of an ignorant and religiously intolerant academic who should not be allowed to henceforth mentor any of our youths as she could mislead them.”

Again, in his response to Prof. Davies’s call for return of Kwara Schools to missionaries, the Kwara Muslim Stakeholders leader said that “the woman goofed again because of her pretence of ignorance that the matter was taken to court by Kwara CAN since 2013 and they lost at Ilorin High Court by the judgement of 2016 and also lost their Appeal to the Court of Appeal in 2019.

Abdulkarim said, “the Court of Appeal Ilorin had also declared Kwara CAN as “meddlesome interlopers who are unknown to the law ‘on the return of schools matter’ filed before it.” He further remarked that, “After the judgement delivered by Court of Appeal on the matter in 2019, Kwara CAN just filed an Appeal to Supreme Court in 2021 without filing any brief till date,” which should not be.

It’s uncontendably, we all know that PMA belongs to the big league and I can quote from online sources and records that, Prof. Adesanya-Davies is, “A credible woman of impeccable character, she believes in determination, professionalism, excellence, accomplishment and experience. One who cherishes the ideals of a democratic, free and egalitarian society, she emerged as the ticket bearer of MAJA, Presidential hopeful and a female candidate in 2019.

A versatal academic and educational prodigy and life coach/mentor, the teacher of teachers “She is known for her leadership prowess and competence, strategic mind, ability and skills, vocal audacity, strong presence and personality. She demonstrates resilience as well as versatility, locally, nationally and internationally and political interest, education and humanitarian activities, with her general experience in lecturing and administration, in about four decades.

A former Director of General Studies of Rivers State University of Education, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria, where she is a Professor and has lectured in language, linguistics and communication studies in the past thirt-five years. She also facilitates courses in Language and General Studies at the National Open University, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria and has taught on part time at University of Port Harcourt.

Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies has served on sabbatical, as a Dean at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences of Regent University of Science and Technology, Accra, Ghana and Deputy Provost, Life Gate College of Education, Ilorin. A Visiting Professor to the University of Cape Coast Cape Coast, Ghana, Prof. Mercy and an External Examiner supervising Doctoral dissertations, for the School of Postgraduate Studies of the African No One University, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
She is also the current Chairman of the University Council, at Christian Judicial Institution, (CJI ) Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

It all began when on Opinion Nigeria, published about a month ago, July 23, 2023 published by Nuhu Aguwom, Prof. Adesanya-Davies had commented on a Press release signed by Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kwara state on July 18, 2023, the Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq has reportedly approved, “The observance of every Muharram 1 as a work-free day in the state.” Thus, Wednesday July 19, 2023, which is equivalent to the first day of Islamic lunar calendar (Muharram 1445), is to be observed as a public holiday in the state,” according to a Government House statement.

Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies a Princess of Ira, Kwara state, Nigeria, reacting to the development has said in her opinion, “This legislation of an extra work-free day which is non-national is on called for in the state as Kwara is a multi-religious state. The practice currently is not in any state of the country. Moreover, it is undesirable for Christians and other religious groups in Kwara state to observe a work free day on Wednesday, July 19, 2023, since it isn’t slated for the entire Nation, Nigeria. What about pupils and students in schools!? She asks.

How and why would a State declare an annual-work-free day, yearly which is not national without the consent of the Federal Government, while students for instance are supposed to be learning in the Universities?

Adesanya-Davies added, “This is not the first time such a step is being taken in Kwara State by the current administration to undermine the Christian community and make the Muslim community feel special. “At times, I just wondered unlike President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, what Governor Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq is up to when it comes to his religion, Islam, while he is even married to a Christian woman.”

The claim is that, “History says the first of Muharram heralded the migration of Prophet Muhammad, peace of God be upon him, from his birthplace Mecca in search of a peaceful and conducive atmosphere to practice Islam. This brings to mind the need for everyone to imbibe the lessons of patience, perseverance, tolerance, moderation, and compassion. However, Kwara state is part of Nigeria and not Saudi Arabia.

She said surprisingly, it is pertinent to note that, there are nine official public holidays in Saudi Arabia; however, “Wednesday July 19, 2023″ which is fixed for Hijra holiday in Kwara state, is neither a work free day nor a public holiday date in Saudi Arabia. One of the biggest public holiday events is Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, which is usually marked in Nigeria as an holiday.

She further expanciates, “For purpose of clarity, lists of public holidays in Saudi Arabia during 2023 include:
3 May (Tuesday): Eid al-Fitr
4–6 May (Wednesday through Friday): Eid al-Fitr holiday
9 July (Saturday): Arafat Day
10 July (Sunday): Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice)
11–12 July (Monday through Tuesday): Eid al-Adha holiday
22 September (Thursday): National Day.
Important dates in Saudi Arabia 2022
21 March (Monday): Mother’s Day
3 April (Sunday): start of Ramadan
19 June (Sunday): Father’s Day
30 July (Saturday): Muharram (Islamic New Year).

It is enough that the “The Governor was said to have congratulated the Muslim community on the occasion of another lunar calendar, Hijrah 1445, while he urged everyone to reflect on the purport of the day in the hope that we are guided by its lessons and significance in our day-to-day living and interactions with others while calling for religious tolerance, mutual respect, and compassion for everyone, irrespective of their beliefs.”

She recalled, “Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court announced that Tuesday, July 18, will be the last day of the month of Dhul Hijjah, 1444 Hijri, according to Saudi Press Agency.

The report said, “There was no sufficient evidence that the crescent was spotted on the evening of Dhul Hijjah 29 (Monday, July 17), and hence the Supreme Court decided that Tuesday (July 18) would be the last day of the month of Dhul Hijjah. Consequently, Wednesday, July 19, 2023, is being celebrated as the first day of the month of Muharram, 1445 Hijri.” It was not declared a public holiday. Even if declared a work-free day in Saudi, it needs not be so in Kwara State and Nigeria, a secular state.

Adesanya-Davies also urged Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to “Stop the use of hijaab in Mission schools in Kwara State and return the Schools back to the owners as Asiwaju Bola Tinubu defends return of Mission Schools with transfer of forty eight (48) mission schools to their former owners, during his tenure insisting that is the right thing to do and there is no going back on the issue.”

She cited that, “President Bola Tinubu would never initiate or support any policy that would make Nigeria an Islamic State, watch out! “I therefore call on President Ashiwaju Tinubu APC-led administration to come to our rescue in Kwara state.” So.many things are going wrong on religious issues in Kwara State especially at Ilorin, pleads Bishop Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies with the President.

Adesanya-Davies, bread at St Clare’s Girl’s Grammar School Ofa, and Queen Elizabeth Girl’s Secondary School, Ilorin in her grammar school days recalls how education, schools and uniforms were levelers in her days without any forrm of religious, tribal or class connotation and colouration.

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