Posted by By RAZAQ BAMIDELE on
Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola has sent money to the state's stranded pilgrims in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for their upkeep till their departure period.
Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola has sent money to the state's stranded pilgrims in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for their upkeep till their departure period.
Disclosing this to Daily Sun on phone at the weekend, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Lasisi Olagunju, however, debunked the insinuation that the pilgrims were stranded, reminding that air lifting of pilgrims was in batches.
'It is not true that they are stranded. You remember pilgrims are airlifted in batches. Those who departed Nigeria in the first week of December are the ones coming home now. The Osun State pilgrims have not spent a whole month in Saudi Arabia because they were part of the last batches that departed the country about a week to the Arafat day. So they are not stranded," Olagunju explained.
Reacting to the reports that the affected pilgrims were selling their goods and some personal effects to feed, the CPS said 'the governor is not unaware of such a development," saying that is why Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola sent enough funds to them through the state Amir-ul hajj on Saturday for their upkeep."
When asked about the arrival period of the affected pilgrims, Olagunju informed that 'they are expected back home latest Wednesday, January 24," saying 'all is well with them."