Re: No solution to scarcity of hajj seats

Responding to questions on the alleged politicization of the sale of hajj seats, Ambassador Buba answered thus: “The issue of allegation is a democratic right of any citizen of this country. It is one thing to make allegations and it’s quite another to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt. As far as we are concerned, […]

Responding to questions on the alleged politicization of the sale of hajj seats, Ambassador Buba answered thus: “The issue of allegation is a democratic right of any citizen of this country. It is one thing to make allegations and it’s quite another to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt. As far as we are concerned, the seats were publicly distributed to local government areas and they were openly sold. To address irregularities in the sale of seats, we have departed from the odd tradition where the sales are done secretly. Now, we have opened up the system. This time around, we initiated a new strategy to take the seats to the public and it was sold in a transparent and very open system.”

The interpretative meaning is that the way and manner hajj seats were sold before was “odd” and “secretive.” I beg to disagree. The process he referred to as odd and secretive is more open and transparent.

First, as someone who has performed hajj through Kaduna state in 2008, I can assert that the procedures used by previous management was the best all over Nigeria. In 2008 for example, the process of selling hajj seats started with the launching of Hajj Saving Scheme at the Emir of Zazzau’s palace in Zaria every year. The event was announced and reported in both prints and electronic media. The process allowed those who wanted hajj seats to approach any local government registration centre and make deposit.

I got to know of the commencement of sales of hajj seat through radio announcement made a day after the official flag off. Immediately, I submit a draft to Kaduna South pilgrims’ officer. I was registered via biometric process with picturing and finger prints. That was when I came to know that the state has upgraded to online registration process. A form that contains my picture and bio-data was printed out.

I was asked to take the form to the imam in my area for attestation. I think this was designed to stop the wrong people from going to hajj. At that time, the process seemed tedious to me but I appreciated the reason. Some months later, I received a text message urging me to come and complete the balance payment after official announcement of hajj fare by the National Hajj Commission OF Nigeria (NAHCON). What is secretive about this process, if I may ask?

Secondly, asking people to queue with bank draft for hajj seats is the most archaic method witnessed so far. The process adopted before the coming of this administration is far open and more flexible than what Ambassador Sule Buba described “new strategy.”

Moreover, how do you authenticate the real intending pilgrims? How do you ensure that those who queue to secure the seat will not resale them to unsuspecting intending pilgrims at higher prices as being the case now?  Remember, the so- called odd system involved instant photography and finger printing. Unlike in the past, I did not hear any announcement informing people to go and line up for hajj seats before they were sold.

On the issue of allegation of hoarding hajj seats, the executive secretary responded by urging anybody who has inconvertible evidence against any of his pilgrims’ officers to come forward with it.

According to him “I will deal with that individual, no matter his position or what connection he has in the state.” This statement actually portrays Buba as somebody who takes pleasure in chasing shadows. It is the responsibility of the board to monitor their pilgrims’ officers and other processes put in place.

What evidence did he need when virtually all those that went to queue returned home without being registered?

What connection or position can any pilgrims’ officer under his supervision have? What I expect from the executive secretary is to learn the rope, admit any short coming and find a way of remedying same. For his information, this is the first time sales of hajj seats are generating uproar in the state.

Questions will be asked as to why the so called “new strategy” failed to carry the traditional institutions along. For example, launching of hajj saving scheme took place at the Emir of Zazzau’s palace in the last nine years. It was adopted as a hajj policy by Kaduna state government under the stewardship of Governors Ahmed Muhammed Makarfi, Arc Muhammed Namadi Sambo and lately Sir Patrcik Ibrahim Yakowa.

Now that Ambassador Sule Buba has jettisoned this laudable policy, in whose interests did he decide to jettison the traditional rulers’ launching by the chairman of traditional council in the state? Did Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa approve such act? Does this action now mean that traditional institutions and their participation especially in signing pilgrim’s forms as a means of further primary identification and screening are no longer relevant? The executive secretary also said in the interview that he has sold 6000 out of 7500 seats allocated to the state.

The question is what happened to the remaining 1500 seats? Why is he allocating hajj seats to select few in the name of stakeholders as if we are allocating fertilizers? These are the issues he could have provided answers to and not rationalizing why hajj seats are being sold haphazardly.

Most importantly, the public outcry that greeted this years sale of hajj seats should be further investigated by the state government as it has never happened before. A committee should be set up to scrutinize how hajj seats were sold. The public has a right to know the facts.

Again, Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa must be cautious of not allowing the abolishment of the commendable policies approved by his two predecessors. After all, the two former governors who approved this policy are Muslims and in a better position to know where the shoe pinches.

Though the board did not approach him for the royal blessing, the Emir of Zazzau should not hesitate to continue playing the role of a father and pray for the success of the hajj exercise in Kaduna state as he done in the past.

Usman wrote from Sabon Gari, Tudun Wada, Kaduna