National Coordinator and Chairman of Team Prosper, Mr. Shehu Bankole-Hameed, has expressed concerns over the release of N90 billion, as subsidy, for the payment of fare for the 2024 pilgrimage to the Hajj, in Saudi Arabia.
Bankole-Hameed, who questioned the rationale behind the move, said earmarking such amount of money to the pilgrims was creating a fertile ground for corruption.
In a chat with Vanguard, he wondered why the money was not used in supporting businesses, saying there were money poor Nigerians who deserved it.
His words: “How did the Federal Government come up with N90 billion? If Federal Government had that amount of money why is it not assisting small scale businesses?
“Why are they not pushing that N90 billion out to cushion the effect of pain or offer price discounts to business people who sell items? I think the major push for that came from the so-called Muslim leaders.
“I say so-called because I am a Muslim and I don’t find anywhere in the history of Prophet Mohammed or His friend, who lived with him where the state supported any soul to Hajj or Umrah.
“Though individuals are encouraged to assist those who want to go, Allah said in the Qur’an that it should be for those who can afford it. What does it mean by that?
“What have they done by giving all these poor people who cannot afford it the option to go to Mecca and still come back hungry and poor? These religious people are creating the ground for corruption. If a government had 90 billion for this and it had to find it, how did it find it?
“The question that should be on people’s minds is where did government get this money from? And why is it giving people who are traveling?
“What is the business of government in interfering in how people believe in their God? I think Nigeria is such a place where we believe that there is a God. Even those who practise none-scriptural religion also believe that there is a God.”
This pressure by so-called Muslim leaders or religious leaders is the basis for corruption.
“Let’s avoid where God would curse us for doing things that he did not advise us to do. Individuals are expected to fund their lives.”
