Mr. Shehu Bankole-Hameed, the Chairman of Team Prosper and National Coordinator, has voiced concerns regarding the N90 billion, as subsidy that will be released for the payment of fare for the 2024 pilgrimage to the Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
Bankole-Hameed claimed that allocating a substantial sum of money to the pilgrims was encouraging corruption and questioned the reasoning behind the decision.
He questioned why the funds were not used to support businesses, claiming that there were many Nigerians who were deserving of it.
“How did the Federal Government come up with N90 billion?” he said. Given its financial resources, why is the federal government not supporting small businesses?
“Why are they not using that N90 billion to reduce the impact of suffering or to give merchants who sell goods price breaks? I believe the so-called Muslim leaders made a big push for that.
“I say so-called because I am a Muslim and I have not seen anywhere in the history of the Prophet Mohammed or His companion that the state provided financial help for any individual to go the Hajj or Umrah.
“Allah stated in the Qur’an that it should be for those who can afford it, even if people are urged to help others who wish to travel. What does that actually mean?
“What have they accomplished by allowing so many underprivileged individuals who cannot afford it to travel to Mecca and still return impoverished and hungry? These religious people are fostering an environment conducive to corruption. How did a government find 90 billion if it had to find it for this?
“Where did the government acquire this money? That is the question that has to be on everyone’s mind. And for what reason is it providing travelers?
What right does the government have to interfere with people’s religious beliefs? Nigeria, I feel, is one of those places where people still believe in God. Even individuals who follow non-scriptural religions acknowledge the existence of God.
The pressure from religious or so-called Muslim leaders is what initiates corruption.
Individuals are supposed to fund their own life, so let’s avoid a situation in which God would blame us for acting against his advice.
