Leadership (Abuja)
3 January 2009
The performance of the Jigawa State contigent at the 2008 pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the hajj can actually be a hitch-free event.
It must be noted that the effort of the state government went a long way in making the hajj a pleasant experience for its citizens. It is therefore obvious that when governance is conducted fairly and justly, the governed stand the chance of enjoying the benefits that any responsible and people- loving government can give. The basic function of government is the progress of its people.
The only secret behind this story of success by Jigawa State is good and responsible leadership that is imbued with vision and the passion for the welfare of ordinary people.
The Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly, who was also the Amirul Hajj of the 2008 pilgrimage, Alhaji Adamu Atamos, and other members of his delegation as well as other Jigawa State hajj officials, have received a shower of prayers for doing an impressive job.
Indeed, if other states in the country can borrow ideas from Jigawa State, the hardship and other ordeals our pilgrims go through may be substantially reduced. Jigawa State hardly records incidents of unruly behaviur by its pilgrims leading to the embarrassment of Nigeria in foreign lands. And the fact that pilgrims from Jigawa State have no reason to protest is itself evidence of good leadership.
From the mistakes of others, wise men correct their own, so goes the adage. This may have largely influenced the Jigawa State government in producing one of the best welfare packages for its pilgrims. Problems arise from lack of early preparation, which results in a crisis of embarrassing proportions. With these bitter lessons from other states, Jigawa State has evolved a strategy that is yet to be rivaled in terms of efficient organisation. The officials of' Jigawa State are not angels; the only difference is that they know how to conduct a successful pilgrimage. Indeed, this is the only distinguishing feature that makes the state outstanding.
According to reports, Jigawa State began hajj preparations as early as March 2008 to avoid unforeseen pitfalls in the future. With this strategy of early preparation, Jigawa State is today leading the way in terms of efficient hajj organisation. The active support of the Lamido administration also contributed significantly to whatever success story recorded by the state in the conduct of the annual pilgrimage.
For example, Governor Sule Lamido told the hajj officials not to hesitate in listing their needs to ensure an efficient organisation. And true to his words, he responded promptly to whatever assistance they requested. Apart from the open support from the governor, the hajj officials also went to Saudi Arabia to do a survey, nine months in advance, in order to ensure Jigawa State pilgrims enjoyed the best welfare package.
As a result of this early preparation, Jigawa State was able to secure the best accommodation facility for its pilgrims. It is also the only state in Nigeria that was feeding its pilgrims throughout their stay in the Holy Land. Jigawa State did not achieve this distinction because it is richer than others; it did so because the government makes the people's welfare the cardinal objective of its policies. Indeed, it is not surprising why Jigawa State became the envy of other pilgrims that wished they had enjoyed this level of extraordinary care by their government. In fact, some federal hajj officials were so impressed that they privately indicated interest in borrowing ideas from Jigawa State for the future conduct of hajj operations.
For instance, at every place where Jigawa State pilgrims were accommodated, an official was attached to them to ensure prompt response to their needs or complaints. Doctors were also readily available to respond to any emergencies. Without any fear of contradiction, one would confidently declare that no other states' pilgrims enjoyed the tremendous level of comfort made available to Jigawa State pilgrims.
It is also worthy of note that Jigawa State did not record any case of officials abandoning the pilgrims once they arrived in the Holy Land. On the contrary, the Amirul Hajj and other officials he was privileged to lead, moved from one accommodation point to another to ensure no pilgrim suffered any inconveniences. The hajj officials spent time together with the pilgrims in order to be in tune with their welfare.
At the hajj tent at Munnah, Jigawa State pilgrims were provided with mats and blankets to ensure no one slept on the bare floor or ground. Throughout their stay at the tents, they were fed free of charge three times a day. On the Arafat Day, dedicated to the stoning of the devil, male pilgrims formed a human ring around women pilgrims to protect them from harm or some untoward incidents.
Moved by the quality of welfare they had enjoyed from their government, the pilgrims carried out a special prayer at the Kaabah (Blackstone), supplicating Allah to bless the hajj officials that took good care of them throughout their stay in the Holy Land. While other desperate pilgrims from other states wanted to return home immediately, Jigawa State pilgrims were not under such pressure because of the welfare package they enjoyed from their government.
To crown it all, Jigawa State pilgrims were given a monetary gift of five hundred Rials each. As a result, the fear of being stranded at the end of the exercise never existed. In fact, even the pilgrims themselves were amazed at this extraordinary level of care which they had received from their government. We must pay special tribute to the leader of the Jlgawa State delegation to the 2008 Hajj operation, Alhaji Adamu Atamos, who is also the Speaker of the Jigawa State House of Assembly. As Amirul Hajj, he demonstrated leadership worthy of emulation; indeed, his leadership has reinforced the people's faith in the government's ability to look after the welfare of the people.
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