In Nigeria to be precise, any Islamic business man is addressed or greeted in the above title: Alhaji. So conventionally the title ‘Alhaji’ is used to designate a muslim business man or a muslim elite. But that’s not what Alhaji means in the true sense.
Islamic religion is anchored under five pillars: Faith, Prayer, Almsgiving, Fasting and Pilgrimage (Hajj). One of the cardinal obligation of all Muslim is to go on pilgrimage to Hajj, at least once in a person’s life time. Any muslim male adult who accomplishes this feat earns for himself the revered title ‘Alhaji’. In the ages past, it takes a fortune for one to accomplish this desire. Therefore, it is often merited by elders who must have lived long, and made a life saving so as accomplish such either on foot or by then, difficult means of transportation.
Thus it could take weeks or months for one to make it to Hajj. Today, with the improvement in means of transportation, it is much easier. Pilgrimage to Hajj is significant in many ways. It is a ritual for cleansing of past sins and opportunity given for a new beginning. Also, the pilgrim learns tolerance and patience, self restraint and compassion to the poor (charity).
READ ALSO : The Dream and the Daydreamers – Theodore Ekwem
In Nigeria, we have many adorned with the title ‘Alhaji’, and are mostly from Northern Nigeria. Yet and quite curiously, with all these Alhajis who do annual renewals, the North by statistics, remain the poorest region of the country and the most educational disadvantaged region also. In the last few months, I have listened to some Alhajis talking about Nigeria in the build up to 2023 election. These Alhajis have occupied high places in government at various times, and yet, ‘the charity to the poor’, the ‘tolerance that Hajj teaches’, the self restraint code of life of true Muslims, were all lacking in their speech. They were tribalistic, and lacking in tolerance. They exhumed superiority overture, and in their speech denigrated a whole region. More worrisome is that these men are within the category which renowned psychologist Erik Erickson described as stage of ‘Integrity and despair’ (65 years and above) in his psycho social development theory. According to Erickson, at that stage the individual is either soaked in a sense of acceptance, lack of regret, feeling of peace and fulfillment; or he is hunted by despair, bitterness and regret. Unfortunately, the latter seem to be the case for some of these Alhajis. This too explains their disposition and attitude in the forthcoming election. To rule Nigeria “by fire, by force”, either in the context of “it is my turn” or that “we are born to rule” is a sign of unfulfilment and regret in one’s late adulthood.
The real Alhaji is the one who had been to pilgrimage to be renewed and renew his society. When this is properly understood, it showcases a beautiful spot of Islamic religion. The Alhajis who understood this have turned around their Islamic states into wonderful places like Dubai. The five pillars of Islam are meant to make the society better, and the Northern Nigeria which is densely an Islamic region ought to be a better place too.
Therefore, the enlightened and real ‘Alhaji’ seeks knowledge as a true leader of his people. His Hajj could be a visit to the Islamic nations of Morocco and Egypt, where likeminded Alhajis are pooling their people out of poverty. In Nigeria, the real ‘Alhaji’ is the one who some years back without political or campaign attachment, has been moved by compassion and charity to visit schools especially in the north where investment in Education is an urgent necessity. He moved from Nasarawa to Kastina, from Kogi to Sokoto mentoring northern students on values of education. Why? Because he wants to reduce their poverty rate and increase their educational standards. In each case, he makes donations of millions of naira from his personal purse for scholarships and infrastructural development of the schools. The true ‘Alhaji’ is the one who visits companies in the North like Umza rice factory to support the growing company, thereby encouraging employment and wealth creation for people. The real ‘Alhaji’ in the spirit of Hajj shows love and brings hope. He responds to hate with love because Islam preaches tolerance of other religions as demonstrated in Dubai when their former prime Minister built St Mary’s Catholic Church in Dubai. Hence, he was true to himself when he bellowed before the Arewa Joint Committee recently: Northern Nigeria will be the most beneficiary of my administration! Yes, he has done it before. As a former governor, the Northern region of the state that seem to have been neglected was the major beneficiary of his administration. Go and verify!
My Muslim brothers and sisters, the Northern youths and all you progressive men and women from the north, I present to you, a 2023 true pilgrim. The Obi-Datti ticket is your rescuer, and will change your poverty narrative and backwardness in Education. It is a ticket that will not politicize insecurity and will get you back to your farm lands. The ticket will provide Jobs for you to earn a decent living, against the choice of banditry and terrorism. The leader of the ObiDatti movement has the competence, capability, commitment, integrity and strength to lead the nation back to greatness.
He is ‘Alhaji’ Peter ‘Mai karfi’ Obi.
Theodore Ekwem
About Author
I got this web page frolm myy friend who informed me concerning thijs wweb ssite and att the moment thjs time I
amm browsing this web page andd reading very informative posts at tuis place.