Naij.com Reader Says Government Is Wasting Money In The Name Of Religion
Our guest writer Hussain Obaro scolds the Nigerian government for opting to sponsor religious pilgrimages rather than fulfil its primary duty of ensuring the well-being of millions of Nigerians.
"Over the years, the government's sponsorship of the selected few for pilgrimages has gained prominence and is often seen as a way of rewarding party loyalists, political associates, friends and families of the government officials," Mr. Obaro wrote in his message to info@naij.com.
"To suit these purposes, huge amounts of money which would have been enough to ensure the well-being of many Nigerians are allocated each year to sponsor such journeys.
"The government has a responsibility to provide infrastructural amenities like good motorable roads, portable drinkable water, affordable education, adequate healthcare system. The government has a responsibility to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive and investments to pour in.
"It is therefore unreasonable, religiously wrong (as it goes against the tenets of both Islam and Christianity), morally unfair, criminal and unlawful to use the taxpayers' money meant for other purposes to sponsor just a few persons for pilgrimages and deny Nigerians of their dividends of democracy.
"As much as about tenth of the budget in some states - a number of which are among the poorest ones - is annually allocated for pilgrimages, while the people there lack clean drinkable water and contract water-borne diseases, such as cholera, typhoid fever, etc. Healthcare delivery system in many of Nigerian states is in total shambles and rot, there are few well-equipped clinics.
"All of this has greatly increased maternal mortality, too.
"Some of our states are notorious for lacking good motorable roads and increasing rate of road accidents. This factor might have forced Nigerians to start preferring air travelling, as it is "safer," but we all know the poor state of aviation sector in Nigeria.
"Affordable and qualitative education system is one of the government's basic responsibilities, but it seems that the governors would rather advocate for an increase in their quota for Hajj, Jerusalem and Rome trips than handle any education questions.
"It is shameful that, apart from the federal and state governments, various local governments which also sponsor pilgrimages - yet they often decry lack of money to carry out projects that would have had direct bearing on the lives of their people.
"Government at various levels should put an end to this uneconomical and unnecessary spending and focus on providing the much-craved dividends of democracy.
"If Hajj, Jerusalem or Rome trips are truly religious obligations then I don't see the reason why it should deny the people of the basic amenities needed for life.
"People of Nigeria shouldn't be deprived of their rights to basic amenities just because the governments want to sponsor their political thugs and party loyalists for pilgrimage.
"The National Assembly and various Nigeria-based human rights organizations should come to the aid of common Nigerians to put an end to these reckless spendings once and for all. Enough of this rebuff of the rights of the people, somebody should please call the governments to order."
Please note that this opinion solely belongs to the author of the piece and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Legit.ng editorial team. When commenting on a Legit.ng article, refrain from insulting each other on any grounds.
Be heard by millions of Nigerians! Submit your article, message, question to info@naij.com and become our guest writer/blogger.
Source: Legit.ng
