Kwara Pilgrims ‘Stranded’: Why Indulging Irresponsible Behaviour Puts Everyone At Risk-Rafiu Ajakaye 

Kwara State PDP has just issued a statement raising an alarm that Kwara State pilgrims in the holy land of Saudi Arabia are stranded. 

As a policy of the media team, we checked to see if anything is amiss, contrary to what we knew about the scheduled return of our pilgrims. 

I spoke with the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, HRM, Oba Ismail Yahya Alebiosu, who is the Ameerul Hajj, and the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims’ Board, they both had a good laugh at the statement of the PDP because there is nothing as such.

Kwara has some 2,204 pilgrims this year, one of the biggest contingents from Nigeria. These pilgrims are scheduled to depart Saudi in four batches as follows: June 21st, 23rd, 25th, and 27th. This schedule was not designed by the Kwara State Government; it was designed by all the stakeholders: NAHCON, airlines, and the pilgrims’ board. 

Many states of the federation still have pilgrims in the holy land. Nigeria has some 41,000 pilgrims this year; of these, only 6,951 are back, according to NAHCON figures this afternoon. 

Today is June 17th. How did the story of being stranded arise? 

As a reporter, Iam for a democracy that allows for free exchange of information and robust conversations on issues of shared interest, but I am not for sheer mischief and irresponsibility. They serve no good. In fact, mischief constitutes existential threats to all of us. This is why false alarm attracts stiff penalties in many societies. 

‘It’s only when we discover how to live with one another peacefully, governed by institutions, rules, and norms to which we mutually consent, that we can turn our attention to other vital issues’ according to Jeremy Weinstein. 

I appeal to our colleagues in the media, legacy or new, to adopt a higher level of scrutiny for what they accept from anyone at all — ruling or opposition politicians.

This is important for the good of all. If we allow just anything and no line is too sacred to cross, we risk psychological numbing to issues of grave significance to the public welfare or safety.  Pray, where did the PDP get the idea that Kwara pilgrims are stranded? How are they stranded? When are they expected back home? Has that time lapsed? If purveyors of fake news know that people will ask questions, they will think twice before dishing it out. I beg that we set the bar very high in our own interest–Mr. Rafiu Ajakaye, who is Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s Chief Press Secretary, writes from Ilorin, Kwara State.