By Abubakar Jidda Usman Lest someone think I’m writing to condemn all hajj handlers and stakeholders. *NO* please. No group of individuals in any given society that are all bad – no good ones – or vice versa.
It’s always a mix of the two extremes. However, one of the extremes could dominate the other. So, in Nigeria’s Hajj Industry which of the extremes dominates the other!? Whichever one says, is a matter of personal opinion and perception. And French philosopher, François-Marie Arouet, known as Voltaire, once said, I do not believe a word you say, but I defend to death your right to say it.
Therefore, with this saying at the back of our minds we may not have any reasons for hot exchanges, that might create enmity among brothers and sisters of faith, in any discourse, as it’s a truism of life, the saying that, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.
The Nigeria’s Hajj Industry, to the best of my knowledge, has never been rancour free ever it became an exercise with handlers, except of course, for the first eight formative years of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON. Only that in those years the rancour was not as loud as to draw attention, as being seen and witnessed since the inauguration of the second Board of the Commission to date.
The rancour, could have been worthwhile if it was done in the best interest and for the betterment of the ordinary Nigerian pilgrims. Sadly though, the rancour was, and still, is the insatiable lust for material gain and self-centeredness of most handlers and stakeholders.
If not, let’s just limit our discussion from the coming of NAHCON, 2007, to date, how comes that since the inauguration of the second Board to the present one, no single Chairman of the Commission is not seen as worst thing to happen to the Hajj Industry!!!?
Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar was the most hated and vilified Chief Executive Officers of the Commission, his immense contributions to the Industry notwithstanding. Infact he was literally sent packing along with all his members, for no justifiable reason than self-centered interest and not that removing him, or refusing him second term was in the interest of the pilgrims, or the Hajj exercise. Yes, someone might argue he exhausted his mandatory eight years. The question is, as a Chairman of the Commission, or as a member of the Board of the Commission ? Whichever one would say, a legal lacuna, hard to explain, has been created. If as Chairman, he served only one term. If as a Board member, there was a member who served for twelve straight years.
Again, could it mean if one servers for eight years as a Board member, he could not be Chairman of the Commission afterwards ? Take it or leave it, it was self-centered interest that made sure he left the Commission.
Barrister Zikrullah and members were also sent home, not in the best interest of the ordinary Nigerian pilgrims, or the Hajj Industry, but as a result of political fallout.
Barrister Jalal Arabi, a seasoned and tested technocrat, was relieved of his appointment not because the ordinary pilgrims was shortchanged, or did not get value for their money, but because some fat cats could not get him do their bidding. And now Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman Pakistan, is having his own fair share of the raw deal of campaign of calumny against his person and even reputation of an Islamic scholar. From Barrister Abdullahi to Professor Pakistan the same accusations of corruption, high handedness, abuse of procedures, lack inclusion et al are the excuses put forward to discredit them and to have them removed from office.
In the case of Professor Pakistan, who some bloggers postulated that Aso Rock was shopping for his replacement. And a nominal Commissioner, representing me on the Board, was heard in an interview saying, they wanted nothing short of removing the Chairman, because among his sins, according to the nominal Commissioner from my zone, he lacked administrative capability. But what about, Abdullahi, Zikrullah and Jalal, could they also be said have been removed for lacked of administrative capabilities!?
However, the bloggers and my Commissioner, couldn’t have been this categorical and assertive about the removal of Professor Pakistan if they weren’t privy to some under the table dealings and manoeuvres.
After the Commissioners’ so-called vote of no confidence and petition to the President, three names were said to have been presented to Mr. President to pick any as replacement. The names, it was said, included, one of the signatory Commissioners to the so-called, if not said, to be a politically engineered, vote of no confidence, a one time state governor and a former deputy governor from a different state. However, for now it appears the sword has been seethed, albeit temporarily.
But then, could it be said the dust has now settled!? Are we really going to have a seamless; hitch free Hajj exercise this year!!? I pray yes, but writing on the wall is alluding to a sad experience.
Allah Ya tsare, Ya kuma kiyaye. I will, In Shaa Allah say why in our next meet.
However, each an everyone of us should always have this proverb at the back of his mind, because it’s, as someone puts it, a powerfully meaningful metaphor about foresight, restraint, responsibility and long term thinking.
The proverb goes – *A cat that cares about tomorrow, does not eat a pregnant rat*