‘I’ve been to Hajj 51 times’

Weekly Trust: Can you tell us when you started performing Hajj?Alhaji Muhammad Nakatarori Hadejia: I started going to Hajj by road before the introduction of airplanes, prior to Nigeria’s independence. I missed that of 1960 because when I got to Sudan, I could not raise enough money, so I returned home. In those days, we […]

Weekly Trust: Can you tell us when you started performing Hajj?
Alhaji Muhammad Nakatarori Hadejia: I started going to Hajj by road before the introduction of airplanes, prior to Nigeria’s independence. I missed that of 1960 because when I got to Sudan, I could not raise enough money, so I returned home.
In those days, we went to Hajj through Sudan. I would pass through Ndjamena to Libya where I would do menial jobs to raise cash to add to what I already have before proceeding to Sudan. There was no issue of visa that time, all you need is what they call laissez passer. Ibrahim Abooth was the one in charge of Hajj affairs in Sudan then.
When planes later came into use, they could only take 40 passengers. At that time there was no radio, so if the plane is coming they would use a Kaakaki (local trumpet-like music instrument) to announce its arrival. The cost of an air ticket then was the equivalent of N250. Alhamdulillah, this is my 51st Hajj and insha Allah if I am alive and healthy, I will be back next year.
WT: How do you get money to finance your trips these days?
Hadejia: I am a trader and I save money. As I am talking to you now, my money for next year’s Hajj is ready. Right now, I came as a Board Member of the Jigawa State Pilgrims Board. I was appointed by Governor Sule Lamido but even if I am not a member I would still come. Going to Hajj has become part of my life. In fact, the year I failed to go, I joined the native police, saved my money for one year and then travelled to Hajj the following year.
WT: Can you recollect those you went on these pilgrimages with in those days?
Hadejia: In Hadejia, none of them are alive, but in Kano I performed Hajj with people like Baba Dan Bappa, Dan Kasim, Adamu Dogo Nawarure, Alhaji Maiwada, among others. At that time, Dan Bappa and Dan Kasim were the agents taking people to Mecca. There was no Pilgrims Board then.
It was the government of late General Murtala Muhammad that abolished the use of agents as facilitators for intending pilgrims and introduced the State Pilgrims Welfare Board. I was a member of the Kano State Pilgrims Board in 1975 during the Murtala regime.
WT: A lot of transformation has taken place in Mecca in the last 50 years. What was it like 50 years ago when you first visited?
Hadejia: When I first came, the Ka’aba had no cement on it. The place for tawaf was full of gravel and broken blocks, too. We walked on gravel to perform the tawaf. Even the Zamzam well was distributed by Musa Zamzam to pilgrims in earthen pots. Even the road leading to the Ka’aba was mountainous and you’d have to climb to access it. We travelled on foot to Mina, Arafat and Jamrat.
At that time, we carried few items and palm fronds as protection from the sun. In those days, even when planes started flying pilgrims, the entire Nigerian contingent was not more than 350 but today even Jigawa alone had thousands.
WT: How many months does it take to go on Hajj by road?
Hadejia: The least is three months.
WT: Some will say that instead of the numerous Hajj trips, you embarked upon, you should have gone for Umrah…
Hadejia: My friend, Umrah is for children. Real men go to Hajj. If you don’t see me for Hajj, it’s either somebody stopped me or they may claim that I am too old. And beside that, it is Allah who calls people to Hajj. If He calls as usual, I will answer.
Since I started performing Hajj over 50 years ago, I’ve missed only twice. The first, as I mentioned earlier, was when I could not raise enough money in Sudan to cross to Mecca. The second time was when Sule Lamido and Abubakar Rimi were arrested in 1998 and since we were all members of NEPU/PRP, I visited them in incarceration.  
WT: Even at your age, you prefer to trek to Mina and Jammrah…
Hadejia: Why not? I feel strong and healthy. It is Allah that has blessed me with health. Anytime I wish, I will pick my bag and move on.
WT: How did you find yourself on the Jigawa Pilgrims Welfare Board?
Hadejia: I was appointed by Governor Sule Lamido. I’ve known him for a long time, since when he was young and a radical who feared no-one.
WT: Let’s talk politics. You’re a dyed-in-the-wool member of NEPU. What’s your take on the current landscape?
Hadejia: Politics have changed drastically. What you have now is sycophancy and money politics.