Kwara Govt Fires Back: No Pilgrim Left Behind In Saudi Arabia

The Kwara State Government has refuted allegations by the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) claiming that pilgrims from Kwara are stranded in Saudi Arabia during the ongoing Hajj.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

In a statement issued on Tuesday, Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, dismissed the PDP’s claims as unfounded and deceptive. He asserted that all 2,204 pilgrims from the state currently in Saudi Arabia are safe, well-catered for, and not experiencing any form of neglect.

“I have personally spoken with the Ameerul Hajj and Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, His Royal Majesty Oba Ismail Yahya Alebiosu, as well as the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims’ Board. They both found the PDP’s claims to be laughable and completely detached from reality,” Ajakaye stated.

He clarified that the return of pilgrims is being coordinated by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) in partnership with designated airlines and state pilgrim boards. The agreed schedule for returning pilgrims, he noted, is a joint effort among these stakeholders and is not determined by individual state governments.

Ajakaye added that Kwara’s contingent — one of the largest in Nigeria — is expected to return in four phases on June 21, 23, 25, and 27. As of June 17, NAHCON data shows only 6,951 out of Nigeria’s estimated 41,000 pilgrims had returned home.

“Today is June 17. What is the basis for claiming the pilgrims are stranded? When were they supposed to return? The agreed return dates are still in the future — where is the logic in these allegations?” he asked.

He also urged the media to verify politically charged information thoroughly before publication, to avoid spreading misinformation that could lead to unnecessary panic or reputational damage.

Meanwhile, in a statement titled “International Disgrace: PDP Condemns Gov AbdulRahman’s Silence on Stranded Kwara Pilgrims in Mecca,” PDP spokesperson Olusegun Olusola Adewara accused the governor of ignoring the alleged plight of state pilgrims left behind in Mecca after completing their Hajj rites. The party urged Governor AbdulRazaq to address the issue and reassure the public about the welfare of the pilgrims.