By Abubakarr Bah, Information Attaché, Saudi Arabia
Mina, July 9 2022-
The Ambassador Extra-Ordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Excellency Dr Ibrahim Jalloh, in his address to Sierra Leonean pilgrims in Mina, Saudi Arabia, wished the pilgrims a Happy Eidul Adha and congratulated them for performing the Hajj.
Ambassador Jalloh urged the pilgrims to glorify Almighty Allah on this day marking Eid and pray for Sierra Leone, for peace, unity and development.
“As Sierra Leoneans, we pray for His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio, the Government and the people of the Republic of Sierra Leone. We pray for peace, unity and development on this day as it is a moment in which supplications and prayers are answered by Allah Subuhaa-nahu-wata-Allah,” Ambassador Jalloh said.
Ambassador Jalloh concluded by saying ” on this day I wish to say special thanks to Allah for giving His Excellency the President Dr Julius Maada Bio the wisdom to appoint me as the first Islamic Scholar to have studied in Saudi Arabia to serve as Ambassador to Saudi Arabia.”
The Sierra Leonean pilgrims expressed their gratitude to Ambassador Jalloh, staff of the Embassy, Sierra Leonean students in Saudi Arabia and the Hajj Committee for the warm reception and hospitality accorded them throughout the Hajj process.
In another development, the Minister of Social Welfare, Hon. Haja Baindu Dassama, in a brief address, congratulated the pilgrims for successfully going through all the Hajj rituals.
Haja Dassama on behalf of the Government of Sierra Leone apologized to the pilgrims for the constraints faced during the Hajj process, especially at the Lungi International Airport.
Emotionally, she expressed her sympathy to the intending pilgrims who didn’t make it to Makkah this year, adding that the problems were beyond the government’s control as many other countries faced similar challenges.
“Despite these challenges, the government is able to fly 941 pilgrims to Makkah,” she said.
The Minister further admonished the pilgrims to be patriotic and protective of the only Sierra Leone, that they have as the only country.
“Whatever thing H.E. the President does is in the interest of Sierra Leone”, Hon. Baindu Dassama assured.
The Minister concluded by urging the pilgrims to pray for the President, the Government and the people of Sierra Leone, for peace, security and development to continue to reign in the country.
END
