2018 Hajj: Shun acts that can soil your name, Nigeria – Gov. Akeredolu tells Ondo pilgrims

Pilgrims from Ondo State going for this year's hajj in Saudi Arabia
have been charged to exhibit proper conduct in the holy land.

The Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu handed this charge
during the farewell ceremony for the 119 intending pilgrims held at
the premises of the state's Pilgrims' Welfare Board in Akure.

Akeredolu, who tasked the pilgrims on the need to portray the state
and the country at large in a positive light by adhering to the laws
governing their host country, added that they should be conscious of
traveling with contraband materials capable of muddling their names as
it may create a bad image for the state and the country.

"You must resist the temptation of carrying hard drugs or prohibited
goods to the Holy Land. The attributes of honesty and discipline which
are enshrined in the Noble Quran must be conspicuously displayed in
your performance of Hajj," the Governor said.

While reminding them as Muslims to ensure that the purpose of the
sacred annual religious rites reflect on their daily conducts during
and after the hajj, urged the pilgrims to pray fervently for the state
and the country at large.

"Hajj pilgrims comes once in a year across the globe. Those of you who
by the grace of Almighty Allah are privileged to observe this sacred
duty must therefore do so with the fear of Allah. This will evident in
the manners you conduct yourselves from now after you have returned
from the pilgrimage.

"Let me remind you of your obligations in the Holy Land. First of all,
a good Muslim must concentrate on the observance of five times daily
prayer and fervent supplications during his sojourn in the Holy Land.
You should therefore not waste your precious sacred time running after
merchandise or engaging in trivial political arguments," he added.

The Governor assured the pilgrims that the state government through
the state's pilgrims welfare board has made adequate and proper
arrangement for their well-being during the hajj in Mecca and Medina.

Meanwhile, the state's 119 pilgrims, who would be joining other Muslim
faithful around the world, had undergone the necessary medical
screening to ascertain their fitness for the exercise.