By ABUBAKAR JIDDAH USMAN
When Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi was appointed as the acting Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, after the hastily dissolution of the last Board, I did write to say, I was not writing to congratulate him, because I don’t envy his new portfolio. I did say then that I similarities with and pray for him that at the end of his tenure I will congratulate him for being relieved of the burden of a thankless job while on it, if you decide to go business unusual, only to be commended, appreciated and remembered in nostalgia when you vacate the place. The case Malam Abdullahi Mukhtar is apt here.
I have said it, times without number that, I have never related, or come across a government parastatal, or agency that is a beehive of enemies within and without, than Hajj Agencies, Boards and Commissions at both Federal and state levels.
In fact, I opined at a time, that the cutthroat scheming, pull him down syndrome and so on, within and without the Hajj industry are legendary, and believe you me, if such ills were found in NNPC, CBN, FIRS, etc, those agencies would have long disintegrated.
The Hajj Industry could not, because always almost outrightly there will be change of guard before the next operation for the vicious circle to continue afterwards.
That is why Hajj affairs in Nigeria have been oscillating, since the federal government came into Hajj issue in the mid 70s, between the presidency, ministry of foreign affairs, the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, as units, department, directorate, presidential task force and finally Commission as we have it today.
That the NAHCON boss is today before the EFCC, is not something out of the blues, because those before him got the same treatment.
And can’t remember any Hajj operation that there were no prominent figures of the Commission being invited by the anti-graft agency and Alhamdulillah, to date I can’t remember anyone going to the gulag from NAHCON, over financial rascality, though some from the States went.
When questions were raised about the N90bn federal subsidy, I clearly stated that they really required answers to either confirm pilfering, or judicious utilisation.
Therefore, we wait to see and hear which of the two comes out. But certainly to me, inviting the Chairman, or any Hajj official is not something new let alone to be news.
My only handicap in responding to maltreatment of pilgrims by NAHCON, as alleged, is that I was not on ground.
Nonetheless the tap I was able to keep throughout the exercise and reports from some pilgrims themselves I make bold to say NAHCON did a wonderfully good job, even if the good was not good enough for others – good being relative – which equally a truism of life, that only Allah our Creator can satisfy all.
Of course detractors are abound within and without the Commission, that is also not alien and purely a no news.
Last year I was on ground, but till date I have not been convinced that the last Board really derelicted in their responsibilities.
I make bold to say they did their best only that the cankerworm of hatred, jealousy, pull him down and all negativities became the yardstick that was used in measuring the dissolution of the last Board.
However, if after every operational year this is what we come back to face, then we better put Hajj affairs in Nigeria on hold, until Angels are sent down, if they will ever be, then we will have a flawless Hajj operation in Nigeria. If not we better come to terms with reality.
It would do us good, the Nigerian Muslim Ummah, if we appreciate that perfection is only for Allah and therefore, realise the need to sit down to review flaws respectfully, make corrections, take measures against reoccurrence, and be proactive in anticipating another, or others, as the Saudis do, to see how best to prevent, or mitigate them when they became inevitable.
Finally, yes Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi has been invited before the EFCC, just like others before him, then that does not go beyond normal, until proved otherwise.
It Is a pity that, it is a price, any head that wears the Hajj Commission crown would have to pay.
•Abubakar Jiddah Usman can be reached on +2348034530583
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