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<p>By Ibrahim Adam</p><div class="Fdgxi722" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

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<p>In the sacred valleys of Mina, where millions gather seeking divine mercy, something unusual happened.</p>
<p>It wasn’t the rituals or the crowd—it was the sight of a Nigerian governor moving quietly from tent to tent, pressing warm greetings into pilgrims’ palms alongside 250 Saudi Riyals, and whispering “Barka da Sallah” like a father would to his children.</p>
<p>That governor was Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State. And for the over 3,345 Kano pilgrims under his care, this was more than a religious journey—it became a deeply human experience of being seen, valued, and loved.</p><div class="cIeePrD9" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

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<p>“He walked with us,” said Alhaji Musa from Gwale, his voice trembling with emotion. “Not as a politician. As one of us. As a brother.”</p>
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<p>A Leader Who Showed Up</p>
<p>Governor Yusuf’s Hajj story didn’t start in Saudi Arabia. Months earlier, in Kano, he stood before hundreds of hopeful pilgrims and made a promise:</p>
<p>“We will not let the burden of cost block your path to the House of Allah.”</p>
<p>Initially, he pledged 200 Saudi Riyals per pilgrim. But upon arrival in the Kingdom, he increased it to 250 Riyals, further surprising the pilgrims with a gesture that felt both generous and personal.</p>
<p>When currency instability threatened the Basic Travel Allowance, he released over â¦376 million in emergency support to ensure each pilgrim received their full $500.</p>
<p>“He didn’t leave us at the airport. He followed us to Makkah, to Mina, to Arafat,” said Hajiya Rabi from Dala.</p>
<p>“He came before everyone, inspected our hotels, tasted our meals, asked about our beds.”</p>
<p>He wasn’t just preparing for the cameras. He was preparing for the people.</p>
<p>In Mina, a Governor Turned Father</p>
<p>Under the scorching Saudi sun in Mina, where sleep is brief and emotions run high, the governor emerged quietly with his team a day after Eid.</p>
<p>No sirens. No announcement. Just warmth.</p>
<p>He moved from tent to tent, personally distributing 250 Riyals to every single Kano pilgrim—3,345 in total. The joy was instant. The emotion, overwhelming.</p>
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<p>“When he announced the money, I started crying,” said Hajiya Safiya, an elderly widow from Dawakin Tofa.<br />
“I didn’t expect him to even visit, let alone remember us.”</p>
<p>It wasn’t just about the money. It was the humility of the gesture. The human touch.</p>
<p>Three Square Meals and a Human Connection</p>
<p>For many pilgrims, this was also the most comfortable Hajj they had ever experienced—not in luxury, but in dignity.</p>
<p>• In Makkah, pilgrims received two hot meals daily.</p>
<p>• In Mina and Arafat, where pilgrims often struggle for food, they enjoyed three full meals per day—fresh, consistent, and culturally familiar.</p>
<p>And it wasn’t just the quality of the food. Meals were brought directly to the pilgrims’ doorsteps—ensuring no one was left out or delayed.</p>
<p>This small but thoughtful gesture meant every pilgrim ate on time and with ease.</p>
<p>“I have been to Hajj before,” said Malam Bala, a retired teacher.</p>
<p>“But this time, I was never hungry. I didn’t fall sick. I felt cared for.”</p>
<p>The governor’s presence ensured clean toilets, mobile clinics, and direct coordination with Saudi authorities to ease the movement of pilgrims—especially the elderly.</p>
<p>Words of Guidance, Not Just Gifts</p>
<p>Even amid his generosity, Governor Yusuf remained focused on purpose. He addressed pilgrims in a heartfelt sermon, urging them to pray for peace in Nigeria and to uphold Kano’s good name.</p>
<p>“You are not just here for yourself,” he said.</p>
<p>“You are here for your family, your state, your country. Conduct yourself with humility. Saudi law is strict—stay away from anything suspicious.”</p>
<p>His warning was gentle but firm. His tone—not that of a boss, but of a leader who cares enough to correct you with love.</p>
<p>A Memory Etched in Spirit</p>
<p>What made this Hajj unforgettable wasn’t just the money, the food, or the logistics. It was the presence of a leader who chose to be among his people, not above them.</p>
<p>“When I tell my children about Hajj 2025, I will say: ‘We went with a governor who stood by us, prayed with us, cared for us,’” said Malama Hadiza, her voice cracking.</p>
<p>The phrase “Ya yi mana kamar uba”—He was like a father to us—echoed from tent to tent.</p>
<p>Final Thoughts: A Hajj Beyond Rituals</p>
<p>In the end, it wasn’t the rituals alone that defined this Hajj for Kano pilgrims.</p>
<p>It was the tears shared, the prayers offered, the Riyals gifted—not from a government account, but from a governor’s heart.</p>
<p>Governor Abba K Yusuf reminded everyone watching that leadership is not about distance, protocol, or pride—it’s about presence.</p>
<p>About walking among your people when they are at their most vulnerable. About reminding them they are not alone.</p>
<p>And that—more than the meals, the money, or even the smooth logistics—is what they will remember.</p>
<p>He walked with us. And we will never forget.</p>
<p>Ibrahim Adam is a Special Adviser to the Kano State Governor on Information and Head of Hajj Media Team 2025.</p>
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