The indigenes of Kwara state who recently concluded their pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia have decried the poor treatment they are getting from government.
According to one of the pilgrims who is presently stranded in Saudi Arabia, out of 13 batches who travelled on pilgrimage from Ilorin, only 1 batch have returned to the country.
The second, third, fourth and fifth batches were given dates starting from 11th of July to 17th of July while the other batches have been left to their fate with no communication or information as to when they will be scheduled for a return to the country.
This poor treatment is said to be as a result of poor organization and favoritism that has now corrupted and bastardized the travel arrangements.
According to the source, highly-rated government officials and influential individuals were allegedly unduly used to replace others who were meant to travel on the first batch thereby living them stranded and complicating the process.
It was also gathered that the airline being used is Airpeace which is said to be responsible for transporting pilgrims from Kwara, Ondo, Ekiti and Abuja. However, the airline has a capacity of just about 274 passengers meanwhile Kwara State alone has about 3,700 pilgrims waiting to be flown back into the country.
The pilgrims continue to be in dilemma as they do not know the fate that awaits them or when they will be reconciled to their loved ones.
A.K. KAREEM writes from Ilorin
