In a ceremony akin to his coronation, amidst pomp and pageantry, many defied the scorching afternoon Maiduguri sun to welcome the Shehu of Borno after his return from Saudi Arabia where he led the Nigerian pilgrims as this year’s Amirul Hajj. Last Monday, 4th November, 2013 is one day the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai Elkanemi would live to remember as thousands of his admirers defied the scorching sun in Maiduguri and turned out en masse to welcome the monarch back to the state after what many described as a successful outing as the 2013 National Amirul Hajj for Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia. It was a festive moment, akin to Sallah celebration or a day of coronation as many district and ward heads, traditional title holders, businessmen and students thronged to the streets to welcome the Shehu. The celebration which began at the Maiduguri Airport climaxed at the precinct of his palace in the heart of Maiduguri, after most of the admirers either endured the heavy vehicular traffic, rode on horseback or trekked a distance of about 10km. The streets were also adorned with banners of the Shehu while women equally rolled out to the streets, chanting ‘Barande, Wushe kindero’meaning (Your Majesty, welcome back. Pupils were also not left out in the celebration as the arrival of the Shehu which was around noon coincided with the closure of lesson in schools. Hundreds of them lined up along Bulunkutu, Borno Express Terminus, Police Headquarters, Sir Kashim Ibrahim Way, Dandal Way and Shehuri. Sources close to the Shehu said the warm reception took the monarch by surprise. “It was a big honour to him because apart from the time of his coronation when over 30 high ranking monarchs stormed Maiduguri, the Shehu was never excited the way he is today,” said Lawan Makinta, the district head of Shehuri North. “As you can see, many district heads from the Borno Emirate and beyond are all here to show solidarity to the Shehu for successfully accomplishing the assignment given to him,” he said. Weekly Trust reports that some days to the return of the Shehu, the Waziri of Borno, Yerima Mukhtar, had announced in all local broadcast media in the state that the Shehu would be welcomed by a grand Durbar. And on the fateful day, the Shehu’s aircraft landed to a rousing welcome and thereafter a grand Durbar led by the Waziri and many district heads. Each district head, accompanied by his horse riders and band men took time to display their talent. Speaking from atop his royal balcony, the elated Shehu said he was deeply touched by the reception accorded him by his subjects. He said the durbar showed that peace is gradually returning. “We took time to pray very well in Saudi Arabia for Allah to intervene in our travails. Our people have suffered a lot,” he said. Speaking on the hajj operation, the Shehu said, “Everything was successful. We did not have any hitch from any quarters, no Nigerian was arrested by Saudi security for any offense as far as I know and none of our women was arrested or detained for reason of lack of Muharram (male companion) or for giving birth during hajj. He however regretted that 15 Nigerians died during the pilgrimage. “It is a prize all of us must pay one day and it comes when we least expect whether the person likes it or not. We pray that Almighty Allah will grant them Jannatil Firdaus,” he added. The Shehu said the airlift of the pilgrims back home will be completed on schedule. “Insha Allah, all Nigerian pilgrims will be airlifted back home on or before 18th of this month (November) because as at now, over 40, 000 pilgrims have returned. It remains about 26,000 pilgrims,” he disclosed. He thanked the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar for his concern towards the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims and also thanked the federal government for logistic support. According to him, beside the arrangements made by various Nigerian state governments, the federal government provided two hospitals at Medina, four in Makkah and one in Jidda. “On our part (National Hajj Delegation), we ensured that we visited all pilgrims’ state-by-state during the hajj exercise to know their challenges, constraints and other issues relating to their welfare,” the Shehu said. But despite the successes recorded, the Shehu expressed disappointment over the allocation of old vehicles to Nigerian pilgrims. “It is sad that our pilgrims travelled from Madina to Makka in old vehicles that took them between 8 and 10 hours. We hope that this poor arrangement will be changed in subsequent operation,” he said. Speaking on the reception accorded the Shehu, the Zannah Warwuma of Borno (Information minister of the Shehu) Zannah Usman Chiroma said the gesture was a sign of respect for the royal father. “The fact that the Shehu served as the Amirul hajj is a thing of joy for the Borno people. Secondly, the celebration is a clear evidence of the return of peace in Maiduguri,” he said.
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 09:54:40 +0000
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