ZUL-HAJJ 13 1430 A.H.
MONDAY NOVEMBER . 30 2009.
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Tension over luggage directives in Saudi...As Amirul Hajj, Kano officials part ways
From MUH'D HAMISU ABDULLAHI, Makkah
EVEN THOUGH Nigerian pilgrims to this year's pilgrimage have completed their Hajj rituals successfully, there is however, some brewing ten
must not be weighed above 40 and 10 kilogrammes respectively.
He said any weighing above these figures, the pilgrims will pay cargo aircarriers from their pockets for their airlift from the Holyland to Nigeria.
However, the Director General, Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Sani Lawan Kofar Mata, has said that Kano will not obey the directive of the Amirul Hajj, saying that the directive came at a wrong time, describing it as inimical to the wellbeing of the nation's pilgrims entirely not only those from Kano.
Alhaji Kofar Mata reaffirmed that the state will not comply with the directive, reiterating that they will only respect the earlier agreement reached between Kano state government and the airlines themselves which aim at protecting the interest of the state's pilgrims.
The director general strongly condemned the decision and challenged the Amirul Hajj on it, adding that the state will not take such directive from anybody, pointing out that this affects the pilgrims negatively.
He advised Senator Kanti-Bello to pity Nigerian pilgrims and always be with them in order to protect their interest rather than protecting that of the airlines.
Many pilgrims who spoke to journalists in the Holyland condemned the decision, saying it will not go down well with their plight, looking at it further as a way of provoking them.
Similarly, Daily Triumph further gathered that even some experienced advisers in the public service to include some zonal directors in the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) who, on condition of anonymity, said they met with the Amirul Hajj in Mina and unanimously advised him on the matter but he remained adamant.
On his part, Kano state Amirul Hajj, AIG Bashir Abdullahi Albasu(rtd), who double as Katikan Kano and District Head of Albasu Local Government Area of the state, said the directive came to them as a surprise, urging the National Amirul Hajj to be listening to advice, hoping that the Senator will rescind his decision as it will do more harm than good to the pilgrims.
The district head described Senator Kanti-Bello as a good citizen who would not like anything negative to happen to the pilgrims, reiterating that weighing the luggage would make the pilgrims inconvenient in the Holy- land.
Responding on the issue, Speaker, Kano state House of Assembly, Hon. AbdulAziz Garba Gafasa, also condemned the decision, calling for its immediate suspension by the Senator, which he said would ease the tension among the nation's pilgrims in the Holyland.
Hon. Gafasa said there is no point in bringing the issue at all, explaining that it will only succeed in confusing the pilgrims.
Alhaji Lawan Shehu Bichi, caretaker chairman, Bichi Local Government Area of the state, said since weighing of the luggage of pilgrims has for years been suspended in Kano and taken care of by the state governor, Malam (Dr.) Ibrahim Shekarau, nobody should change that for the state, adding that he is not in support of the decision because of its effect on the pilgrims of the country in general.
Daily Triumph also observed that many rules spelt out by the Saudi Arabian Authorities on this year's pilgrimage were violated by Nigerians as overaged, underaged and pregnant women believed to be relations of highly placed people in the country escaped secreening in Nigeria and found their ways to the Holyland.
Our investigation in the Holyland also revealed that old people aged above 65 and children below six years of Nigerian nationality were seen partaking in this year's pilgrimage as against the Saudi Authorities' law that pilgrims above 65 and below 18 years must be restricted from partaking in the pilgrimage.
The law also prevented pregnant women from the pilgrimage, but cases of delivery were recorded in some Saudi hospitals among the Nigerian female pilgrims believed to be wives of highly influencial people in the country.
