Daily Trust

Muslims from the southern part of Kaduna State have expressed dissatisfaction over the recently constituted hajj committee by Governor Patrick Yakowa, accusing him of marginalisation. The governor had some weeks ago constituted a committee to ensure a hitch free hajj exercise this year.   Some Muslim leaders from the area, who spoke to newsmen yesterday, called on the governor to review the membership of the committee to include all interest groups in the state.

Alhaji Mohammed Kassim, a Muslim leader in Jema’a Local Government Area, who lamented that there was no Muslim from the southern part of the state on the committee, maintained that annually, hundreds of Muslims from the area perform the exercise.

“We have Muslims in the southern part, who are very versatile on hajj activities and they can contribute meaningfully to the progress and success of this year’s exercise. But to our dismay, they were not included. We, the Muslim community in the area feel marginalised,’’ he said.

Muslims in Zangon Kataf and Kachia Local Government Areas, who were represented by Alhaji Dahiru Jibri Abubakar and Alhaji Musa Mohammed also complained of marginalisation.

But the Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Reuben Buhari, has dismissed the  allegation, saying the committee was set up to ensure a cost effective hajj exercise.

“People should be helping the committee with constructive suggestions on how they can succeed, rather than unnecessary accusations. The success of this year’s hajj will not be for the committee members alone,” he said.

He added that the governor should be commended for setting up the committee.