Why politicize hajj seats?
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- Category: Philosofaith
- Written by M. U. Ndagi
- Hits: 764
The fifth fundamental pillar of Islam is hajj; an Arabic word that means pilgrimage to Makkah. Hajj is obligatory only once in the lifetime of a Muslim who has the mental, financial and physical capacity to perform it. The financial capacity mentioned here means that a Muslim intending to perform pilgrimage to Makkah must have enough to cover his traveling expenses to and fro the holy land as well as those of his dependents for the period he is away on hajj. Allah (SWT) states in Qur’an 3:97 ‘…Pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah, those who can afford the journey…”
An intending pilgrim is required to settle his debt if he is indebted. Pilgrimage is not de rigueur upon a Muslim who has burden of debts hanging over his neck. The performance of hajj equally loses its obligatory status upon a Muslim as soon as he completes a full course of hajj rites in Makkah. Every pilgrimage to Makkah performed thereafter shall be considered a prophetic practice and not because it was obligatory to do so for the second time.It is the wish of every Muslim to fulfill this religious duty in his or her lifetime. Many Muslims especially in this poverty-ridden part of the world struggle, some for almost their lifetime, to save enough to accomplish Allah’s injunction on hajj. But sadly, the performance of this duty has over the years been made extremely difficult for intending pilgrims by the sharp practices of some officials of state Muslim pilgrims’ boards.
The situation which is nearly the same in most states depicts corruption, chaos, and undue politicization of hajj seats. In Kaduna state for instance, 80 percent of the 7,550 seats allocated by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) were claimed by officials of the Kaduna state pilgrims’ board to have been sold within 48 hours. The closure of sales of seats a day after its commencement left many intending pilgrims who had raised bank drafts, a prerequisite for securing hajj seats, in a devastating state of confusion and apprehension. It is even more cantankerous that Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross Rivers State bought the entire 50 seats allocated tom the state. Even if the governor had intended to do PR with the seats, “snatching” all the seats cannot be more outrageous of a leader.
This year’s situation is worsened by the commotion and tragedy witnessed by many intending pilgrims, which in some cases were near fatal. In Gombe, it was reported that two people fainted during a scuffle that ensued in the course of obtaining an application form at the state pilgrims’ board office.
In Niger state, the old practice where forms for the hajj seats are allocated at the LG level to political office holders, officials of the ruling party at that level, traditional rulers and members of the emirate council has continued (against the wishes of the masses) to enjoy the “patronage” of local government chairmen in the state. Those who were allocated the hajj seats out of undue favoritism eventually disposed of them through pilgrims’ board officials or their cronies. It is also an “open-secret” that substantial part of the seats allocated to states are hijacked by governors to cater for the Amirul hajj team members some of whom sometimes get as many as ten seats paid for by the state government; denying genuine applicants the opportunity to realize their life dreams.
Why, for Allah’s sake, do we need to politicize hajj seats? Why allocate the seats to those who actually do not need them either because most of them have performed the hajj before or because they can (if they so wish) afford to undertake the hajj trip as an international pilgrim through independent tour operators? Why must the chances of poor intending pilgrims who are in the majority be blocked simply because those who allocate the seats desire to please politicians (in order to protect their offices or appointments) or appease perceived political “obstacles” who are in the minority? Why must the hope of many intending pilgrims be frustrated or dashed as some may not live to witness the next hajj season? Why should anyone (either as a political office holder or government official) desire to empower his supporters or sympathizers through the politicization of hajj seats?
Media reports indicate that seats allocated to those who do not need them were or are being allegedly sold for between fifty thousand and one hundred thousand naira per a copy of application form that should have ordinarily sold for three thousand naira only. It is also being alleged that some officials of the state pilgrims’ boards do conspire with some racketeers to hoard the few number of hajj seats that may be declared (after settling various political interests) to create artificial scarcity and then sell off the slots at inflated rates. This is the situation in virtually all states of the federation even though spokespersons of the various state pilgrims’ boards have separately denied the allegation; requesting “anybody with evidence against pilgrims’ officials to tender it”. Maybe, they are asking for electronic evidence similar to the one in the bribery allegation between Femi Otedola and Representative Farook Lawan. Otherwise, like the Nupe would say or ask, “Who is a blind man deceiving by closing his eyes (against watching a scene as pretence) that he is asleep?”
It is most unfortunate that we as Muslims have become so unguided to have allowed corruption to permeate our religious life. Religion is an aspect that should have remained out-of-the-way even if it were, at worse, corruption’s “last bus stop”. The more leaders and those in positions of authority continue to handle matters that affect the welfare of masses with impunity, the more such insensitivities create animosity. Political office holders (elected or appointed) should realize that open confrontation which repercussions are not completely predictable is always the result of accumulated resentment, an advanced stage of ill feelings. It does not pay for leaders to pretend to be aloof of aberrations orchestrated by their self serving styles of leadership as such may directly concern the life, expectations and aspirations of those they claim to be “leading” (sorry, ruling).
Leaders are reminded that are accountable for the wellbeing of the people and animals under their jurisdiction and political influence and authority. Islam teaches that a leader should be prepared to explain, for instance, why he failed to stop the poisoning of fishes in a river by those who carried the condemnable act to catch the fishes or destroy the aquatic creatures. If this is what responsibility entails in leadership, why should governors not fear Allah to ensure sanity in the sale of hajj seats?
Granted that Nigeria was allocated 95, 000 out of the 120, 00o seats requested, the ‘scarcity’ would not have been so acute if the process of sales of seats had been dissociated from politics and made corruption-free. Nigeria ranks 4th after Indonesia, India and Pakistan in terms of seats allocated to countries. As a way of reducing pressure, this column calls for the abolition of ‘complimentary seats’ in the hajj exercise. The usual amirul hajj committees at all levels which functions ostensibly conflict with those of officials of pilgrims’ boards should equally be reviewed. Preference should also be given to those who are intending to perform hajj for the first time. May Allah (SWT) snatch the hearts of Nigerians from the tight clutches of corruption and sullied politics, amin.
Articles
Why politicize hajj seats?
Category: Philosofaith Written by M. U. Ndagi Hits: 764
The fifth fundamental pillar of Islam is hajj; an Arabic word that means pilgrimage to Makkah. Hajj is obligatory only once in the lifetime of a Muslim who has the mental, financial and physical capacity to perform it. The financial capacity mentioned here means that a Muslim intending to perform pilgrimage to Makkah must have enough to cover his traveling expenses to and fro the holy land as well as those of his dependents for the period he is away on hajj. Allah (SWT) states in Qur’an 3:97 ‘…Pilgrimage thereto is a duty men owe to Allah, those who can afford the journey…”
An intending pilgrim is required to settle his debt if he is indebted. Pilgrimage is not de rigueur upon a Muslim who has burden of debts hanging over his neck. The performance of hajj equally loses its obligatory status upon a Muslim as soon as he completes a full course of hajj rites in Makkah. Every pilgrimage to Makkah performed thereafter shall be considered a prophetic practice and not because it was obligatory to do so for the second time.It is the wish of every Muslim to fulfill this religious duty in his or her lifetime. Many Muslims especially in this poverty-ridden part of the world struggle, some for almost their lifetime, to save enough to accomplish Allah’s injunction on hajj. But sadly, the performance of this duty has over the years been made extremely difficult for intending pilgrims by the sharp practices of some officials of state Muslim pilgrims’ boards.
The situation which is nearly the same in most states depicts corruption, chaos, and undue politicization of hajj seats. In Kaduna state for instance, 80 percent of the 7,550 seats allocated by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) were claimed by officials of the Kaduna state pilgrims’ board to have been sold within 48 hours. The closure of sales of seats a day after its commencement left many intending pilgrims who had raised bank drafts, a prerequisite for securing hajj seats, in a devastating state of confusion and apprehension. It is even more cantankerous that Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross Rivers State bought the entire 50 seats allocated tom the state. Even if the governor had intended to do PR with the seats, “snatching” all the seats cannot be more outrageous of a leader.
This year’s situation is worsened by the commotion and tragedy witnessed by many intending pilgrims, which in some cases were near fatal. In Gombe, it was reported that two people fainted during a scuffle that ensued in the course of obtaining an application form at the state pilgrims’ board office.
In Niger state, the old practice where forms for the hajj seats are allocated at the LG level to political office holders, officials of the ruling party at that level, traditional rulers and members of the emirate council has continued (against the wishes of the masses) to enjoy the “patronage” of local government chairmen in the state. Those who were allocated the hajj seats out of undue favoritism eventually disposed of them through pilgrims’ board officials or their cronies. It is also an “open-secret” that substantial part of the seats allocated to states are hijacked by governors to cater for the Amirul hajj team members some of whom sometimes get as many as ten seats paid for by the state government; denying genuine applicants the opportunity to realize their life dreams.
Why, for Allah’s sake, do we need to politicize hajj seats? Why allocate the seats to those who actually do not need them either because most of them have performed the hajj before or because they can (if they so wish) afford to undertake the hajj trip as an international pilgrim through independent tour operators? Why must the chances of poor intending pilgrims who are in the majority be blocked simply because those who allocate the seats desire to please politicians (in order to protect their offices or appointments) or appease perceived political “obstacles” who are in the minority? Why must the hope of many intending pilgrims be frustrated or dashed as some may not live to witness the next hajj season? Why should anyone (either as a political office holder or government official) desire to empower his supporters or sympathizers through the politicization of hajj seats?
Media reports indicate that seats allocated to those who do not need them were or are being allegedly sold for between fifty thousand and one hundred thousand naira per a copy of application form that should have ordinarily sold for three thousand naira only. It is also being alleged that some officials of the state pilgrims’ boards do conspire with some racketeers to hoard the few number of hajj seats that may be declared (after settling various political interests) to create artificial scarcity and then sell off the slots at inflated rates. This is the situation in virtually all states of the federation even though spokespersons of the various state pilgrims’ boards have separately denied the allegation; requesting “anybody with evidence against pilgrims’ officials to tender it”. Maybe, they are asking for electronic evidence similar to the one in the bribery allegation between Femi Otedola and Representative Farook Lawan. Otherwise, like the Nupe would say or ask, “Who is a blind man deceiving by closing his eyes (against watching a scene as pretence) that he is asleep?”
It is most unfortunate that we as Muslims have become so unguided to have allowed corruption to permeate our religious life. Religion is an aspect that should have remained out-of-the-way even if it were, at worse, corruption’s “last bus stop”. The more leaders and those in positions of authority continue to handle matters that affect the welfare of masses with impunity, the more such insensitivities create animosity. Political office holders (elected or appointed) should realize that open confrontation which repercussions are not completely predictable is always the result of accumulated resentment, an advanced stage of ill feelings. It does not pay for leaders to pretend to be aloof of aberrations orchestrated by their self serving styles of leadership as such may directly concern the life, expectations and aspirations of those they claim to be “leading” (sorry, ruling).
Leaders are reminded that are accountable for the wellbeing of the people and animals under their jurisdiction and political influence and authority. Islam teaches that a leader should be prepared to explain, for instance, why he failed to stop the poisoning of fishes in a river by those who carried the condemnable act to catch the fishes or destroy the aquatic creatures. If this is what responsibility entails in leadership, why should governors not fear Allah to ensure sanity in the sale of hajj seats?
Granted that Nigeria was allocated 95, 000 out of the 120, 00o seats requested, the ‘scarcity’ would not have been so acute if the process of sales of seats had been dissociated from politics and made corruption-free. Nigeria ranks 4th after Indonesia, India and Pakistan in terms of seats allocated to countries. As a way of reducing pressure, this column calls for the abolition of ‘complimentary seats’ in the hajj exercise. The usual amirul hajj committees at all levels which functions ostensibly conflict with those of officials of pilgrims’ boards should equally be reviewed. Preference should also be given to those who are intending to perform hajj for the first time. May Allah (SWT) snatch the hearts of Nigerians from the tight clutches of corruption and sullied politics, amin.