The Kwara State Government has firmly rejected allegations made by the state's chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claiming that pilgrims from the state are stranded in Saudi Arabia during this year's Hajj.
In an official statement released on Tuesday, Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, described the PDP's claims as "baseless and misleading." He emphasized that all of the over 2,000 pilgrims from Kwara currently in Saudi Arabia are safe and have not experienced any form of abandonment or hardship.
"I spoke with the Ameerul Hajj and Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, HRM Oba Ismail Yahya Alebiosu, as well as the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims' Board. They both found the PDP's statement laughable, as nothing of that nature is happening," Ajakaye stated.
Scheduled Return Arrangements
According to the government spokesperson, the repatriation of pilgrims is being coordinated by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in collaboration with designated airlines and state pilgrim boards. The return schedule was jointly agreed upon by these stakeholders and not determined solely by the state government.
Kwara's 2,204 pilgrims, one of the largest contingents from Nigeria, are scheduled to return in four separate batches on June 21, 23, 25, and 27. Ajakaye noted that as of June 17, NAHCON figures showed that only 6,951 of Nigeria's estimated 41,000 pilgrims had returned home.
"Today is June 17. Where is the basis for this claim? When exactly were the pilgrims supposed to be back? How does the idea of being stranded even come up when the agreed return dates are still ahead?" he questioned.
PDP's Allegations
The controversy began when the PDP released a statement titled "International Disgrace: PDP Condemns Gov Abdulrahman's Silence on Stranded Kwara Pilgrims in Mecca." In the statement, the party's spokesperson, Olusegun Olusola Adewara, accused Governor AbdulRazaq of failing to address what they claimed was the plight of state pilgrims allegedly left stranded in Mecca after concluding their Hajj rites.
The opposition party called on the governor to provide clarity on the condition of the pilgrims and reassure citizens of their welfare.
In response, Ajakaye urged media outlets to verify information rigorously, especially when it comes from political quarters, to prevent the spread of misinformation that could cause unnecessary tension or embarrassment.
The government maintains that all pilgrims are safe and their return is proceeding according to the pre-arranged schedule coordinated by NAHCON.
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