Hajj, Goro and Nigerian pilgrims

Another Hajj period is here. Blessed be to Allah. About 70, 000 of our Muslim brothers and sisters across Nigeria will be in Saudi Arabia to carry out the fifth Pillar of their faith. A large chunk of those will surely come from the extended Northern part of the country.

Islamic scholars say that in Islam, Prophet Muhammed (SAW), urged faithful to go visit select Saudi Arabian cities to, among other religious reasons, see the relics of his spiritual journeys and sacred sites as handed down to Him by Allah. Of course, the holy Prophet made it abundantly clear that this spiritual journey is optional, and should be embarked upon by only those who could afford it physically, financially and mentally.

Every year, Nigerian Muslims join millions of compatriots from around to globe to perform the yearly ‘ritual’ in the Middle Eastern nation.

Last year, however, was not a palatable experience for Nigeria and some family members of those on that pilgrimage. About 274 Nigerians were killed in a stampede at Muna, in that country, while six others were struck by a falling crane in the precincts of the Kaaba during the period. Those were natural causes one would say.

Yet again, the sky is buzzing with planes ferrying pilgrims from across Nigeria to the holy land. However, the Saudi authorities have reeled out series of dos and don’ts for all intending pilgrims. Some of these new rules really concerns our people of which they have to take heed before they run fowl of them.

Naturally, Saudi Arabia is not a country you visit with drugs in your luggage (especially those drugs outlawed in their statute books). For this year’s Hajj, the Saudi authority has already outlawed one of Nigeria’s most cherished stimulants, kola nuts.

To many in Nigeria, this is unheard of but to the Saudi government, it is an offence to bring kola nut into the country. Kola nut is sold in virtually all streets of Nigeria but a large quantity of it could attract a death penalty in Riyadh. One man’s meat, is another’s poison, one would say.

Of course, this may not go down well with our northern brothers who cherish kola nut a lot, but it is a taboo in Saudi Arabia.  This caffeine-based edible seed, that is kola nut, otherwise as “Goro” and “Oji” “Obi” is commonly used ceremonially among Nigerians to show a gesture of friendship and warmth. Scientists also say the commodity is also used in the production of beverages and energy drinks.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in her advice to pilgrims warned that the Federal Government may not be disposed to sending emissaries to Riyadh to plead for anyone caught to have contravene this law. She reminded the pilgrims that some Nigerians caught with hard drugs in the last few years are still currently on death row in Saudi Arabia.

By implication, it could be safely said that beverages and energy drinks are also not permitted by pilgrims in the holy land.

But as at Thursday, August 18, about five Nigerian were reported to have been arrested for alleged possession of substance suspected to be hard drugs as well as kola nuts. Already, the NDLEA has ordered full investigation into the arrest of the Nigerians according to Mitchel Ofoyeju, spokesman of the Agency.

All said, our pilgrims to Saudi must heed the warning of their host country by jettisoning kola nuts and other substances considered injurious to Saudi lifestyle. Not eating kola nuts or sipping their favourite beverages and energy drinks during the duration of the pilgrimage in Mecca should not be a headache for any pilgrim.

The Federal Government may not be comfortable with any diplomatic row with Riyadh when culprits are being escorted to the gallows. To be forwarded, they say, is to be forearmed.