Says How can pilgrims be stranded when their scheduled return hasn’t even started
By Ajewole Joshua
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kwara State, Rafiu Ajakaye, has refuted a claim by the state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) alleging that pilgrims from Kwara are stranded in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
In a statement made available to journalists on Monday, Ajakaye described the opposition’s alarm as baseless and misleading, warning that such political mischief endangers public trust and causes unnecessary panic.
“The PDP issued a statement claiming that Kwara pilgrims are stranded in Saudi Arabia. As a responsible media team, we verified this claim by contacting 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 claim laughable and confirmed that there is no such issue,” Ajakaye stated.
According to him, Kwara State has a total of 2,204 pilgrims this year, making it one of the largest contingents from Nigeria. Their return schedule has been clearly outlined to take place in four batches on June 21, 23, 25, and 27, a plan designed by stakeholders including NAHCON, the airlines, and the pilgrims’ board — not the state government alone.
“Today is June 17. How can pilgrims be stranded when their scheduled return hasn’t even started?” he asked.
Citing recent figures from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Ajakaye disclosed that of the over 41,000 Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia this year, only 6,951 had returned as of the afternoon of June 17. Many states still have pilgrims in the holy land as scheduled.
He warned against the dangers of spreading misinformation, especially on sensitive religious matters.
“I’m in full support of democracy and free speech, but sheer mischief and false alarms are dangerous and unacceptable. They don’t serve the public good. In fact, in many societies, false alarm attracts severe penalties because it constitutes a threat to public safety,” Ajakaye said.
He further called on media professionals to uphold higher standards of verification, regardless of the political affiliation of their sources.
“If purveyors of fake news know they will be asked the right questions, they will think twice. We must all set the bar higher for the sake of public interest,” he added.
Ajakaye concluded by quoting Jeremy Weinstein: “It’s only when we discover how to live with one another peacefully, governed by institutions, rules, and norms to which we mutually consent, that we can turn our attention to other vital issues.”
The CPS urged the public to disregard the claim of the PDP, reiterating that the Kwara State pilgrims are safe, well-catered for, and will return according to schedule.
