Date Published: 01/19/10

An Open Letter to South-East Governors

Chief Theodore A. Orji, Executive Governor of Abia State

Chief Peter Obi, Executive Governor of Anambra State

Chief Martins Elechi, Executive Governor of Ebonyi State

Chief Ikedi Ohakim, Executive Governor of Imo State

Chief Sullivan Chime, Executive Governor of Enugu State

Ndi isi ala anyi,

                             Ekele mu nile we’ si ka Chukwu nonyere unu nile!

I salute you all for all that Your Excellencies have been doing for the Muslims in the South-East. Most of you have displayed the highest level of responsibility to the Minority groups and especially the Muslims. May the Almighty continue to guide and protect you to deliver dividends of democracy to our people. May He also continue to encourage you to do more for the religious, political and cultural minorities in your domains. Amen.   

It is good news that Muslims in the South-East of Nigeria are law-abiding, politically conscious, educationally moderate and culturally astute. But it is a fact that they are numerically minor, economically weak and politically unnoticed. They have been seen trying to showcase their abilities in different non-violent, fruitful and socio-economical activities of human endeavours.

Any conscious mind in the activities of Muslims in the Region would agree that the bulk of it revolve around Hajj related-matters. Hajj is a fundamental part of Islam and the fifth pillar upon which the religion stands. It is therefore not surprising that the major live link between the Muslims and the governors of the region is sponsorship of Muslim pilgrims to the Holy Land. On the part of the governors, some of who evidently are encouraged with political recognition and relevance among their Northern counterparts, sponsoring Muslims on pilgrimage assist in inculcating the good ethics and norms of Islam.

Even against the backdrop of scoring political goal, some of the governors are good in themselves and thereby signal good omen for their people. All of them are definitely believed to be staunch Christians. Therefore, their involvement in Hajj affairs is a clear indication of their religious tolerance, service to humanity and Igbo spirit. Igbo people are noted for dexterity, diligence, accommodation of their fellow humans and giving value to life.

Apart from this, the governors also receive the Muslims at the end of the month of Ramadan and on Eid days. This is referred to as salah homage (or Salah Visit to Government House) when the governors used to interact with the Muslims and give them promising hopes of security and welfare. While this practice has been encouraged by some of the governors, others have not yet found and made it interesting because they either do not give attention to it or they use it to divide and rule.      

However, what this open letter seeks are the attitude of governors to Hajj-related issues and what should be done in an effort to meet up with the demands of the National Hajj body and the Saudi Authorities.

Hajj is time-bound. Apart from being done in specific months, Hajj has specific days from which specific hours are ultimately utilized for certain rituals. The journeys to and fro the holy land, due to the traffic at the Saudi Airports during the Hajj operations, are timed. Every country, according to the numbers of pilgrims’ slots allocated to it by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj, has its time during the Hajj season to come into the Kingdom and its time to depart. This is why in Nigeria, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has begun implementation of first-go first-return policy.

The implication of this policy means that the return of pilgrims back to Nigeria is according to the precedence in the out-bound journeys. It has been noted over the years that the States of the South-East and South-South are always the last batch to travel to the Kingdom. This is because they begin Hajj processes very late. On the other hand, this makes the States spend more days than their northern counterparts because the traffic for the return journeys used to be more congested and very slow. Immediately after Hajj, every country of the world through their national Hajj establishments or Tour Operators would struggle to take back their contingents home.

It is, therefore, recommendable that the governors of this region take the Hajj issue more serious because of this factor. As for NAHCON, it has always made efforts to consider the States of the South because of their minority. But how long this consideration will last cannot be told. The best thing expected from the governors who sponsor their pilgrims is to make early payments for their intending pilgrims. Distribution of Hajj seats to the 36 States of the Federation, the Federal Capital Territory and the Nigerian Armed Forces by NAHCON is always done in good time. So the early response to payments for the allocated seats by the governors will definitely help matters.   

The second issue that will assist easy Hajj for the Southerners is for the State governor to constitute full-fledged Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards. It should not stop there because recent events have shown that the use of unqualified persons or basically appointing the leadership of such religious bodies on political grounds has caused more harm. It compounds matters and Muslims are left to quarrel and castigate themselves.

On a serious note, the leadership of the boards should be made up of capable hands from the Muslims who are Islamically enlightened with Arabic language background in order to assist the pilgrims in the Kingdom. Some Boards are made up of one or two men. Some have leaders who, for God sake, have little or nothing to offer the pilgrims. A situation where Muslim Pilgrims’ Boards in the region do not operate independently is detrimental to achieving a stress-free Hajj for South-East pilgrims.

The Governors should also cause the early release of government sponsored pilgrims. The introduction of the e-passport into Hajj is a laudable step that will not only help in controlling every-year goers to the holy land, it can also fast-track discovery of questionable travelers with criminal tendencies in Hajj. Since the process of obtaining the national traveling document involves every concerned individual as well as time, releasing the government’s list earlier enough will be much more appreciated. They may also consider increase in the number of their sponsorship to accommodate more faithful in the yearly event.

Another expected great achievement for Hajj operation is for the governors of the South-East to consider the possibility of establishing Enugu Hajj Zone to serve as the departure and arrival point for the South-East Muslims. This, no doubt, will add to the international relevance of the Enugu Airport.

Every Muslim in the South-East must continue to be law-abiding, faithful and fruitful. They must be loyal to their governors and always pray for their administrations to succeed because Islam teaches that. The governors are trying their best. They can do more. And I salute them and pray for them.

Muhammad Ajah wrote from Central Business District, Abuja. Criticisms can be sent to mobahawwah@yahoo.co.uk , or 08055247005.