Thursday, September 20, 2007
TRADITIONS OF RAMADAN
I have been reminded of other practices that have become traditions during the month of Ramadan. Flying east to Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj or Umra has now become fully entrenched as a Ramadan past time. All manner of people jostle for the journey and by far the biggest sponsor for the trips are state governments. Very few pay for the journey from their pockets.
Here is how the racket operates - in the early days of Ramadan you make it a point to get your name slotted in the list. The governor decides who goes and so your campaign should be directed at him. How you do it is left for you, but no one can guarantee you the flight except the governor.
Who jostle for government sponsorship? Well, traditional rulers are top on the list. Followed closely by the local clerics or religious leaders, top government officials (commissioners, special advisers etc), sundry politicians and the governor's relations. All in all the total number could be anywhere between 200 and 500 people. Now if you multiply this number with the token sum of 500,000 naira then you begin to see why this is important to talk about.
Is this sponsorship in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? I can not answer this question since I am neither a lawyer nor a constitutional expert. But there is a sure way we can find out.
Governor Shema of KT is a lawyer and has in various forums asserted that his actions as a governor will be guided by the rule of law. So all we need to do is watch out whether he sponsors these people to the Umra or not. If he does then it is constitutional and the reverse holds if he refuses to approve any contingent. Fair enough eh? (Thanks Maimuna)
Here is how the racket operates - in the early days of Ramadan you make it a point to get your name slotted in the list. The governor decides who goes and so your campaign should be directed at him. How you do it is left for you, but no one can guarantee you the flight except the governor.
Who jostle for government sponsorship? Well, traditional rulers are top on the list. Followed closely by the local clerics or religious leaders, top government officials (commissioners, special advisers etc), sundry politicians and the governor's relations. All in all the total number could be anywhere between 200 and 500 people. Now if you multiply this number with the token sum of 500,000 naira then you begin to see why this is important to talk about.
Is this sponsorship in accordance with the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? I can not answer this question since I am neither a lawyer nor a constitutional expert. But there is a sure way we can find out.
Governor Shema of KT is a lawyer and has in various forums asserted that his actions as a governor will be guided by the rule of law. So all we need to do is watch out whether he sponsors these people to the Umra or not. If he does then it is constitutional and the reverse holds if he refuses to approve any contingent. Fair enough eh? (Thanks Maimuna)
Labels: RAMADAN TRADITIONS
