Salvaging Hajj Operations in Nigeria: The Samanja Approach

By

Muhammad Jameel Yusha’u

Department of Journalism Studies

University of Sheffield, UK

 

The sadness, anger and frustration caused by the failure of Hajj Operations in Nigeria can not be quantified. People have been voicing their opinion on how to find a lasting solution to the problem in various media organisations and during private discussions. People are concerned about their religion, about the image of their country, and about the failure of the Muslim Ummah to execute this noble objective, yes the failure of the Muslim Umma since most of those shouldered with the responsibility of organising and supervising Hajj Operations in Nigeria are Muslims, in fact this could even serve as a signal for us to look inward and address our problems ourselves without pointing accusing fingers on others.

 

 

Listening to the afternoon programme of the BBC Hausa service on 21/12/1426=21/01/06, an interview was aired with the famous drama artist, Usman Baba Pategi, a.k.a Samanja Mazan Fama. Samanja’s concern is on the failure of Nigeria to organise Hajj Operations successfully since independence, he is concerned about the failure of leadership, he is concerned about the absence of piety and leadership by example, Samanja is concerned that our actions do not match our words, and most worrying of all, Samanja fears that the wrath of Allah might befall on us if we do not change our way of doing things and become sincere and honest.

 

But why does it take somebody like Samanja to intervene, will the intervention of Samanja make any impact on the polity let alone change things for the better? We might be sceptical about the right answers to these questions seeing that when those at the leadership level have failed what can a drama artist  do? It is the lessons in the approach of Samanja by producing a drama on the failure of Hajj operations in Nigeria and the hardship inflicted on the pilgrims that attracted my attention. The lesson is on people contributing in their own way in addressing our problems. Samanja does not hold a political power, neither does he own a travel agency for the airlift of pilgrims to the Holy Land. But Samanja recognises a treasure through which he can send a message, and that treasure is nothing but the audience who admire his dramas and feel entertained by his jokes that carry a lot of substance. These audiences are found all over the country including the houses of those who are responsible for the failure of organising a successful Hajj operation in Nigeria; and anybody who is aware of the popularity of the home videos among various communities will understand what I mean.

 

But the most important thing is that Samanja has contributed in his own way, whether he would be successful or not, it a question of time, it is a question of how listening those entrusted with success of Hajj operations are willing to be? However, what have you and I contributed within our means to help salvage one of the pillars of Islam as Samanja has done by recognising the power of his audience?

 

The lesson in Samanja’s approach once more teaches us that when the society is confronted with problems, fin ding a solution to them is a collective responsibility. That is why the effort of a number of newspapers by writing editorials, and various columnists proffering solutions to the problem is highly commendable. It is one of the few occasions when I saw the media united in their approach in order to confront a national emergency.

 

Taking issues that affect the lives of the people be they religious, economic, family, educational or social collectively would help in promoting good governance. Sometimes part of the blame is on the citizens for being silent on matters they can voice their op inion and call the government to order in a responsible way.

 

The failure to execute a successful Hajj operation is one of the strong signals that good governance has been hospitalised in Nigeria and a clinical investigation is required to diagnose which part of the Nigerian structure is not functioning.

 

Samanja has done his part, if nothing, his drama will bring smile to the faces of those affected by this grand failure, and he has shown that if nobody cares about the flight of Nigerians, drama artists do. My only prayer and hope is that we have not reached a stage where drama artists are more serious in addressing issues than some of our leaders, what do you think?