Pilgrimage: Ahmed’s commendable path
- nationalpilot
- Aug 3, 2015
- 3 min read
Days ago, the Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed made headlines when he disclosed his government’s decision to dump sponsorship of pilgrims to holy lands. In a deeply religious state like Kwara, this must be commended for his forthrightness and boldness in dealing with governance issues without pandering to emotions narrowed interests. Coming at a time that public finance has dwindled, with huge salary arrears bugging down several states in the federation, it is therefore heartwarming that someone is thinking outside the box. Although, Kwara is by no means owing salaries due to obvious prudent management of dwindling resources and patriotic choices made by the government and leaders of the state so far, however, by thinking towards the future, the governor has shown that he is as committed to the well being of the state’s posterity as much as he is determined as of today.
It goes without saying that pilgrimage by Muslims to Saudi Arabia is one of the five cardinal principles of Islam. It is therefore understandable why government at all levels in Nigeria had in the past made a decision to support their citizens’ quest for spiritual revival, especially in Islam where it is a significant pillar of the religion of peace. For this, governments found a way either directly or otherwise to lend this support to residents of communities and faithful who desired to fulfil this singular expectations. Even the Christian community joined with pilgrimages to Israel and the Vatican. It was on the strength of widespread interest in this religious obligations that government at all levels set up the Pilgrims Welfare Boards or Commission as the case may be.
The board or commission was charged with the responsibility of coordinating all religious pilgrimages to all the Holy lands that Nigerians wish to attend. Their job streamlined requirements, welfare, transportation and general management of the tour expectations. Being a government agency meant that all the issues we have with red tape and corruption in running government agencies soon began to bedevil these pilgrim boards.
In a situation like that, it was therefore difficult to separate those who wanted to go on pilgrimage for spiritual purposes from those who saw it as an opportunity to tour these holy sites and others who saw it as business opportunity. This religious obligation for personal fulfilment turned upside down to become a state function. And that is exactly where the whole exercise got messed up. That essentially defeats the reason for the pilgrimage, for example in the Holy Quran, where it is clearly stated that pilgrimage is only for those who can afford it. More so, once in a lifetime is enough! But folks want to attend every year probably because they are not the ones paying.
We believe going forward that governments at all levels, not just in Kwara state, should hands off sponsorship of pilgrimage. It is heartwarming that President Muhammadu Buhari has declared that the federal government will no longer sponsor pilgrims; the Kaduna State Governor too had declared his unwillingness to continue sponsorship of pilgrimages. He even went further to cancel food and beverages that were hitherto shared in the state. This is the way to go. Religion must be allowed to grow on individuals at their pace. Government should not be seen to patronise a few persons to the discomfort of the majority. Government can spell out the framework for the entire pilgrimage operations and leave individual would-be pilgrims to sort themselves out.
Apart from saving the government money, this decision by the Kwara Governor therefore will actually help in sanitising both faiths and even the concept of pilgrimage. It will restore morality to public conduct. Let well-off individuals and interested organisations pledge donations to the pilgrims’ boards. It will make for a more open and unbiased assistance from the board rather than what government was doing in the past.
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