Vice President Namadi Sambo
Ibrahim Shuaibu
Vice President Mohammad Namadi Sambo on Wednesday in Kano called on the 2012 intending pilgrims to pray for continuous peace in the country while in the Holy land of Saudi Arabia.
He said ‘’I want to use this opportunity to call on you (Pilgrims) to pray for peace, economic growth and development in our country’’.
He spoke in Kano on Wednesday during the flagging –off the inaugural flight for 2012 hajj operation held at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano (MAKIA) Hajj terminal.
The Vice President Namadi Sambo who was represented by the Governor of Kano state, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, charged the intending pilgrims to adhere strictly to all the rules and regulations in the Holy land.
He said the call became was necessary in view of the current security challenges facing the country, adding that the exercise is going to be hitch free.
Governor Kwankwaso explained that on its part, state government had established a mobile court to try erring pilgrims in the Holy land.
He also stressed that the state government had also secured decent accommodation for the pilgrims in Mecca and Medina near the Holy Ka’aba.
In his short remarks, Chairman of National Hajj commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Malam Musa Bello said the occasion marks another milestone in the history of Hajj operation in the country as some of the pilgrims would land in Medina instead of Jeddah.
According to him, the first batch of 1,000 intending pilgrims from five local government areas of Kano will be airlifted by Max Air and Kabo respectively.
Musa Bello pointed out that ‘’this is the first time our pilgrims will start landing in Medina and this is historic in Hajj operation in the country and I really commended the Saudi authorities for the gesture”.
He also urged the intending pilgrims to obey all the laws of the land in order to ensure success of the operation.
Responding also, the National Amirul Hajj and also Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar appealed to the intending pilgrim to pray for the country during their stay at the Holy land.
Sultan Saad explained that ‘’Prayer is the greatest weapon, so you should continue to pray for peace in our country because pray is the solution of all the problems’’ .
The flagging off ceremony attended by the Saudi Arabian Consul in Kano, Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero, Emirs of Kazaure, Obateru Auchi, Emir of Zuru among others including the representatives of the airline carries.