Netizen kick against Government-funded religious pilgrimages, sparks debate
Religion/Spirituality
Benin, Edo – In a pointed social media post that has ignited discussions on the role of government in religious matters, an advocate, Maliki Abass Oshomah has voiced strong opposition to Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo's potential plans to subsidize pilgrimages to holy sites in Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Oshomah, who goes by the handle @Abass193 on X (formerly Twitter), argued that such funding represents an inappropriate use of public resources.
"Personally I’m against @m_akpakomiza sending people/subsidizing any pilgrim to either Israel or Saudi Arabia for any indigene of Edo state," he wrote in a post shared early Saturday morning, noting, "religion is a personal believe and if anyone wishes to visit any of the above countries they should fund it privately not through the Govt."
The post comes amid ongoing conversations in Nigeria about state-sponsored religious pilgrimages, a practice that has long been controversial.
Several Nigerian states, including neighboring ones, have historically allocated budgets for Christian pilgrimages to Israel and Muslim pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah.
However, critics often decry it as a drain on scarce resources better spent on infrastructure, education, and healthcare, especially in a multi-faith nation like Nigeria where such subsidies can fuel sectarian tensions.
Edo State, with its diverse population of Christians, Muslims, and traditional worshippers, has seen similar initiatives under previous administrations.
Governor Okpebholo, who assumed office in 2024 following a gubernatorial election, has not publicly detailed plans for pilgrimage subsidies in his early tenure. His office has yet to respond to the post, but the mention has prompted online reactions ranging from agreement on fiscal prudence to defenses of faith-based support as a cultural imperative.
Abass's intervention highlights broader national debates on secularism and governance. In 2023, the Nigerian Supreme Court ruled against states using public funds for pilgrimages, deeming it unconstitutional, though enforcement has been inconsistent.
As Edo State grapples with economic challenges, including youth unemployment and infrastructure deficits, voices like Abass's could pressure the administration to prioritize development over religious endorsements.
While no immediate policy changes are expected, Abass's words have opened a fresh dialogue on the boundaries between personal faith and public spending in Edo State.
