25th October, 2012
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan said he has ordered a post mortem on the problem Nigerian female pilgrims to Mecca faced this year over the issue of male companions.
In a message to greet Nigerian muslims over the celebration of Eid-el-Kabir festival, Jonathan said although the affected pilgrims were able to make the Hajj later, he has ” ordered a thorough post mortem of the incident with a view to ensuring that our Hajj airlift operations are never disrupted by such problems in future and that no Nigerian pilgrim is ever subjected to such traumatic experience in the Holy Land again.”
Hundreds of Nigerian female pilgrims, unaccompanied by men, were turned back at the various airports in Saudi Arabia, the first time the Saudis would use the rule that had long been a feature of the yearly pilgrimage.
Jonathan however relished the role of his government in resolving the problem.
“The problem was eventually resolved with the positive intervention of the Federal Government,” he said in the statement personally signed by him.
The President also noted in his special Sallah message that Nigerians remain a people of great faith with the vast majority of our people professing belief in God either as Muslims or Christians.
“I believe therefore that we should all seize the opportunity of the Sallah season and the public holidays to reflect on how we can bring the ideals and virtues of our religious beliefs to bear on the positive resolution of the many challenges facing us as a nation. There can be no doubt that we will make faster progress towards the attainment of developmental objectives as a nation if we all resolve to do more to live up to the highest ideals of our religious beliefs including the fear of God, willingness to make personal sacrifices for the collective good, selfless service, respect for laws and constituted authorities, honesty, justice, equity, fairness, dutifulness, peace and harmonious co-existence with others”, he stated.
He promised that his administration will continue to give dedicated, committed, focused and purposeful leadership towards overcoming old and emerging challenges before the nation.
“While our doors remain open for constructive engagement and dialogue with all Nigerians, we shall continue to aggressively implement all measures deemed necessary for the restoration and maintenance of peace in all parts of the country.”
The President also urged Nigerians to spare some thoughts for their compatriots affected by the recent devastating flood, asking them to lend a helping hand to ameliorate their suffering.
”I have already announced a relief package of close to N18 billion and constituted a national committee to raise more funds to help victims of the floods.In the true spirit of our major religions which enjoin us to be generous to the needy, I urge all Nigerians who can do so, to donate munificently to the national relief fund for affected persons and communities.”, he said