The death of a 70-year-old, Ahmadu Achida from Wurno Local Government Area of Sokoto State, has tempered the excitement of the state’s pilgrims after the Aliyu Wamakko administration donated N56m to the Holy Land visitors.
The septuagenarian died at Muna two days after observing the Arafat, the chairman of the Publicity Committee of the state’s 2013 delegation, Labaran Dundaye, told Newsextra in a telephone interview.
Dundaye, who is also the chairman of the Sokoto State council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), said the deceased died after a brief illness.
“The incident took place at Muna, near Makkah, two days after the Arafat, after Achida complained of minor body pains and other discomforts,” he said.
“Shortly after, he was confirmed dead. So far, he was the only pilgrim from the state who died during this year’s hajj.
“His remains have since been buried by the Saudi authorities at Makkah, after a funeral prayer at the Grand Mosque, the Ka’abah.
“The family of the deceased have been informed about his demise,” he said.
Dundaye said that the remaining pilgrims were hale and hearty.
The governor’s donation did much to lift the spirits of the pilgrims but the death brought considerable despair.
The state has 6,170 pilgrims in this year’s hajj.
The state’s publicity committee sub-chairman on the 2013 hajj, Dundaye, said the donation was announced by the leader of the delegation (Amirul Hajj), Senator Jubril Gada, in Makkah.
Dundaye said: “Wamakko made the donation when he visited the office of the state’s Pilgrim’s Welfare Agency, Makkah,” he added.
Dundaye said each of the 6,170 pilgrims got 200 Saudi Riyals, equivalent of about N 9,000.
“The gesture was an annual exercise being extended to the state’s pilgrims by Wamakko to alleviate their sufferings and to assist the beneficiaries to augment their usually-exhausted basic travelling allowances.
“The distribution of the money was done between October 17 and 18, and all the pilgrims had received their shares,” he said.
Accordingly, Wamakko was quoted as commending the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for making excellent arrangements which helped in ensuring the success of the 2013 Hajj exercise.
“Nigeria has made good arrangements in this direction and the pilgrims had prayed for sustainable peace and unity of the country during the hajj.
“There is no compromise about the unity and peace of Nigeria, and these fervent prayers would be sustained even after the current hajj exercise,” Wamakko was further quoted.
The governor, according to Dundaye, also commended the state’s Pilgrims’ Welfare Agency, members of the hajj delegation and the state’s pilgrims for exhibiting a high sense of commitment and patriotism.
Governor Wamakko had also performed the just-concluded hajj exercise as the special guest of the Saudi Arabian authorities.
The leader of the state’s delegation, Senator Jubril Gada and the chairman of the Pilgrims’ Welfare Agency, Alhaji Muntari Maigona, all attributed the success of their assignment to the unwavering commitment, support and cooperation of Wamakko to the welfare and comfort of the pilgrims.
However, the annual hajj exercise has been concluded after the 3-day symbolic stoning of the devil at Jamrat, Muna, between 10th Zul-Hijjah to 12th Zul-Hijjah.
