•Gov’s family members, top APC chieftains make list
No fewer than 200 Muslims have reportedly been sponsored by the Kwara State Government to perform the 2024 Hajj, with over N1 billion allocated to cover the costs for the beneficiaries’ pilgrimage.
This comes barely a few days after the official announcement by the National Hajj Commission (NAHCOM), which raised the cost per pilgrim from N5 million to N6.9 million.
According to a government source familiar with the arrangements, the 2024 Hajj witnessed a substantial scale-up from last year’s sponsorship, which catered to fewer than 50 beneficiaries.
Recall that THE ELITES WATCH ONLINE NEWSPAPER in February reported mixed reactions by notable analysts over the alleged plans by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to sponsor over one hundred members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including notable clerics, for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage.
The Kwara State Government’s move, however, drew criticism from analysts who described the development as an “unfortunate occurrence in our political space”.
In his reaction, the Kwara State Governor’s Spokesman, Rafiu Ajakaye, said the development is a standard practice for the government to pay the bills of certain members of the Kwara contingent to Hajj or Christian pilgrimage to make the exercise seamless as a matter of obligation, which could include clerics and some important dignitaries.
Hajj is the annual Muslim ritual that brings together pilgrims from across the world in the Holy Land of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
The decision to increase the beneficiaries of this year’s pilgrims fourfold comes at a time when the state, and indeed the country, continues to navigate through economic uncertainties. It also brings the selection criteria to a discussion on the priorities and fiscal responsibilities of the state government.
Beneficiaries of this year’s sponsorship reportedly include APC chieftains, selected traditional and religious leaders, family members of the governor, and other key community stakeholders.
Meanwhile, there are questions on the prudence of such expenditure amidst the state’s pressing socio-economic needs, such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure development.
“Allocating N1 billion for Hajj sponsorships at a time when our schools and hospitals are in dire need of funding is questionable,” a top civil servant who preferred not to be named said.
On the contrary, some community members, including beneficiaries of the 2024 Hajj, perceive the increased sponsorship “as a positive development that underscores the Kwara State Government’s commitment to fulfilling religious obligations and fostering goodwill among its populace”.
“The increased number of beneficiaries marks another milestone of the Kwara Government’s laudable initiatives. It is a commendable effort to support our Muslim brothers and sisters in fulfilling their religious duties,” an Islamic scholar remarked.
When contacted for reaction, the Chief Press Secretary to the Kwara State Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye did not respond to chats sent to his phone as at the time of filing this report.