The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has condemned the trend where Nigerian politicians display posters of their candidates for the forthcoming presidential election in the grand mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, waring against such practice.
The Commission, in a statement issued on Thursday by its Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Hajiya Fatima Sanda Usara,
also warned that the Saudi Arabian authorities are very strict on any form of politicking while in their land, especially in the Holy Ka’aba where devotees engage in solemn prayers.
The statement said, “The NAHCON leadership had observed with dismay the unfortunate trend where politicians display posters of their candidates in the grand mosque in Makkah.
“This action is tantamount to a desecration of a religious sanctuary which attracts penalties when apprehended. Hence, in the interest of the actors and Nigeria’s image, pilgrims are cautioned to desist from such illegal activities please,” NAHCON warned.
In another development, NAHCON, in its role as to ensure orderliness during the exercise, advised Nigerians to always maintain calm and patiently await their Tour Operators to transport them to Jeddah whenever they are through with the exercise noted that the over-crowdedness experienced in the AbdulAziz International Airport was out inpatient urged the pilgrims to always maintain law and order.
“The NAHCON Umrah Monitoring Team chairman, Director Usman Aliyu Shamaki, hereby draws the attention of Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia to the over-crowdedness being witnessed in the king AbdulAziz International Airport, Jeddah.
“The team chairman humbly advises Nigerian pilgrims to patiently await their Tour Operators to transport them to Jeddah airport for their departure to Nigeria when their flight are on ground.
“According to reports,pilgrims have thronged the Jeddah airport in desperation to return to their countries even when their aircraft are not on ground.
In order to avoid embarrassment, inconveniences, and possible penalties, the management advised the Nigerian pilgrims to always remain in their locations until the appropriate time for their take off.