The Chairman, Oyo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Taofeek Akeugbagold, has urged states to stop sponsoring hajj.
Akeugbagold, who spoke to reporters in Ibadan, said Nigeria was the only country sponsoring pilgrimages.
He said: “Oyo State is the first to introduce what I can call state private system of hajj, whereby the government withdraws financial sponsorship.
“Governor Abiola Ajimobi had foreseen the recession and stopped pilgrimage sponsorship. Now, he only gives moral support and guidance.
“My advice to other states’ boards is that they should source for alternate funding and not rely on government money again. Hajj is the last pillar of Islam and Allah has made it mandatory for only those who have financial and health powers.”
Akeugbagold said about 1354 pilgrims from the state participated in this year’s pilgrimage.
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Many of them would not want to stop it because they see it as an avenue to steal from government coffers. Any responsible government will not wait to be told that it is wrong to use the collective till of the people to fund a project that does not add value to all stakeholders nor does it add value to the state in any way, but only creates avenue for unscrupulous select few to milk the generality of the people. This is why we need to hold these governors to account. The money they spend is not theirs but belong to all the people and therefore must be spent to benefit all. It is high time this unconstitutional habitual tendency of these governors is checked. Enough is enough.