Seek Allah’s help for Oyo, Nigeria in Mecca, Makinde charges pilgrims

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State bade 900 pilgrims of the state farewell to Saudi Arabia for the 2019 Hajj, urging them to use their pilgrimage to beseech Allah for solutions to the numerous social, political and economic problems confronting the state and the nation at large.

Speaking at a farewell ceremony held at the state’s Hajj Camp, Olodo, Ibadan, on Wednesday, Makinde particularly urged the intending pilgrims to pray in the holy land of Mecca for Allah to direct the nation’s leaders to lead aright.

He urged the pilgrims to shun prohibited items like drugs and kola nut, reminding them of the penalty for such an offence in Saudi Arabia.

The governor pleaded with the intending pilgrims to resist all forms of temptations that run contrary to the aims and objectives of performing hajj and be good ambassadors of the state.

In a bid to reduce the stress of intending pilgrims, he reiterated the commitment of his administration to seeing that the state’s pilgrims begin to be airlifted from the Ibadan Airport, Alakia, in the nearest future.

In his remarks, the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Dawud Akinola, who is to lead the state delegation to hajj, promised fairness to all pilgrims throughout their stay in Saudi Arabia.

Speaking in the same vein, the chairman of the state Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim wing), Professor Sayed Malik, said plans had been concluded for the smooth airlift of the pilgrims to and from the holy land.

Present at the ceremony were the wife of the governor, Mrs Omini Makinde; wife of the deputy governor, Mrs Bose Olaniyan; the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abdul Ganiy Abubakri; Head, Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, Professor Kamil Oloso; South West Commissioner of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Sheikh Adeyemi Fuad.