President Kabbah Rescues Stranded Pilgrims

Following their failed attempt to perform this year's pilgrimage to the Holy Land of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, a total of one hundred and three intending Sierra Leonean pilgrims have finally been flown back home, along with the remains of one pilgrim Madam Khadijah Jalloh, who passed away while stranded in transit in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Some four hundred and fifty Sierra Leoneans had initially been listed by a non-governmental Committee for Hajj matters to participate in this year's Hajj. However, only three hundred and forty-seven of that number actually succeeded in arriving in the Holy Land in time to perform the pilgrimage, reportedly due to poor flight arrangements by the committee's appointed agents, Afrik Airlinks, owned by Honourable Alpha Kanu, Member of Parliament of the opposition APC party.

It took the personal intervention of President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, who was away in Tripoli, Libya on an official visit, to secure a Libyan registered aircraft that flew to their rescue in Abuja where they were in transit awaiting connection to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. However, due to lateness in securing a landing permit from the Saudi airport authorities, the same aircraft eventually had to airlift the unsuccessful pilgrims back to Sierra Leone in the early hours of Friday 30th January 2004.

Addressing an obviously dejected group of would-be pilgrims shortly after they all assembled at the VIP lounge of the Freetown International Airport, Minister of Social Welfare, Gender and Children's Affairs, Mrs. Shirley Gbujama, on behalf of President Kabbah and his government, first expressed condolences to the bereaved family of Madam Khadijatu Jalloh. The Minister went on to note that President Kabbah himself had been at the airport to receive all would-be pilgrims and sympathise with them for their plight but pointed out that the President had to shuttle back to Freetown after it had appeared that the flight would be arriving very late in the night.

Mrs. Gbujama encouraged the group not to be ashamed or feel disheartened but urged them all to regard their misfortune and disappointment as the inevitable will of the Almighty God. She assured them that government had arranged for ferry and bus services to facilitate their return to their respective homes.

In her remarks, one of the unsuccessful pilgrims Madam Fatmata Marah commended the efforts of the government of Sierra Leone in coming to their rescue, while committee member Sheikh Abu Bakarr Conteh highlighted the relentless role played by Sierra Leone's Head of Chancery in Abuja, Mr.Joseph Sawi, who he said remained in constant touch with them.

While thanking the pilgrims for their patience and understanding, Shiekh Conteh also called on government to promptly set up a judicial commission of inquiry to probe into the entire Hajj fiasco and to bring to book whoever might be found wanting.

Speaking after Friday prayers at the Hill Station Presidential Lodge, President Kabbah assured pilgrims that the culprits responsible for the aborted pilgrimage would be held accountable for their wrongdoing as well as made to pay back all monies obtained from intending pilgrims. He added that many of the unsuccessful pilgrims would be given first priority in next year's Hajj, urging them to maintain a strong faith in God and exercise patience. The sermon delivered during the Friday prayers was on the theme of 'patience' which Sheikh Abu Bakarr Conteh said is reflected in seventy out of the one hundred and fourteen suras of the Holy Quran. He therefore called on the congregation and the pilgrims in particular to consider their hardship and disappointment as a test of faith, admonishing that God tests the faithfuls for His own purpose. Those who remain steadfast, he said, will find favour with God.

President Kabbah expressed disappointment that certain unscrupulous individuals among the Hajj committee had spoiled the entire Hajj programme by going back to their old negative ways of managing Hajj activities. He further indicated that government would shortly begin discussions with local Islamic stakeholders as to whether private agents should continue to manage future Hajj activities or whether the process should be reverted to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children's Affairs.