Wamakko’s Ramadan widow’s mite

By Mohammed Mustapha
Posted: Monday, September 6, 2010

Originally, in Arabic, the word ‘ as-Sawm’( Sawm) means ‘al-Imsak,’ that is to abstain totally from any act including eating, drinking,walking , speaking etc .Thus, the word is ancient and was used in different contexts by the Arabs before Islam .
Then , however it did not have the specific meaning given to it byIslam as a term denoting a certain religious obligation . As an Islamic term , it means to refrain intentionally from what breaks fast
To a Muslim therefore , Ramadan is not just refraining from eating and drinking but carries the added significance of worship, psychological comfort, morality and legislation .
Ramadan fast is being observed annually in the month of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar.
In other words, it is the Islamic month of fasting in which Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and indulging in anything that in excess or ill-natured from dawn to sunset.
Fasting is meant to teach the Muslims patience, modesty and spirituality .
Ramadan is also a time for the Muslims to fast for the sake of the Almighty Allah alone. They are also expected to offer more prayers than usual.
During the Holy month of Ramadan, the Muslims ask for forgiveness for past sins, pray for guidance and help in refraining from everyday evils.
They also try to purify themselves through self-restraint and good deeds.
One indisputable fact worthy of mention here is that, it was in the month of Ramadan that the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (S.A.W) received the first verse of the Glorious Holy Qur’an. (Qur’an 2:185). The first verse was revealed to him by Angel Gabriel (A.S.).
Infact, Muslims globally strive to perform this noble pillar of Islam diligently. The story is not also different for the Nigerian Muslims and those in Sokoto state.
It was in the bid to enable the entire Muslims in Sokoto state to fast with relative ease that the people’s Governor, Dr. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko conceived the idea of the Ramadan feeding programme in 2007 .
There is also a little wonder in this direction as the indefatigable Magatakarda Wamakko has always stressed, “ours is a government of the people, for the people and by the people.”
Expantiating further on the programme, Governor Wamakko said, “it was introduced in fulfilment of our campaign promises to the good peace loving people of Sokoto state.”
He further averred at the flag off of the programme in 2007 that, the gesture was aimed at affording the less privileged members of the society fast with relative case.
Happily, the laudable programme has continued to grow from strength to strength since then.
Corroborating on the issue, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, the Commissioner for Social Welfare, Sports and Culture noted that, “the Governor made the promise during the 2007 campaign.”
“He promised that if elected into power to make adequate welfare packages for all the citizens of the state”, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu added.
One of such promises was the establishment of the Ramadan feeding centres during the Holy month of Ramadan every year.
“This is to allow the Muslims observe their fasting without any difficulty and alleviate their suffering more so with the current global economic melt down ”, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu further enthused.
Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko had in 2007 without any hesitation approved the take-off of the Ramadan feeding package.
At its inception in 2007, an II-man high-powered committee under the chief Imam of Farfaru-Juma’at mosque, Sokoto, Sheikh Abubakar Jibril was set up.
All mosques, Islamiyya schools and other institutions were used as the locations for the centres. A whopping N48 million was also approved by the Governor for the programme in 2007.
Fifty seven (57) centres were also set up then. The money was expended on the purchase of assorted foodstuffs, cooking utensils and other essential needs.
In the same vein, the centres were supplied with beverages, chickens, rams, beef, pure water, rice and beans , among others. What a real succour to the Muslims?
According to Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, the programme not only assists the less privileged but also boosts the socio-economic activities of the state.
“Businessmen and women are engaged hence benefit directly from it .
It also creates job opportunities,” the Commissioner stated.
In 2008, the centres were increased to eighty-eight (88) due to the wide acceptability of the programme by the beneficiaries in Sokoto city and its environs.
The centres were in 2008 divided into two. Fifty of them were given assorted stuffs, chicken and other needs. The rest were only given financial assistance.
Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu also announced that 98 million Naira was approved by Governor Wamakko then (2008).
In 2009, a whopping 120 million Naira was also earmarked for the programme by the masses-oriented PDP-led administration of the dexterous Sarkin-Yamman Sokoto.
The centres were also increased to 120 from the 88 in 2008. Seventy of them received food items while 50 are only being given financial assistance.
The money was also for the purchase of assorted food items, cooking utensils and other accessories. 9 million Naira was also used for the purchase of three vehicles to ensure proper monitoring and supervision of the programme .
According to the Social Welfare Commissioner, over 400 women served as cooks in 2009 under the programme. They are being paid N400 each daily. Over 400 people also serve in the various sub-committees.
These sub-committees include those in charge of receiving/distribution of food items, new centres, monitoring and supervision, G-5 and Sokoto central prison.
Similarly, several officers and men of the Nigeria Police, N.S.C.D.C,Hizbah, J.N.I. and other voluntary organisations are being engaged to provide security at the centres with the payment of N300 daily to each of them as a transport allowance.
However, in 2010 the centres had blossomed to 135 with a whopping N135 million set aside for the programme .
“The Governor breaks his fast in these centres when he is around.
This government is a listening government,” Prof. Musa Maitafsir, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, noted.
According to him, “so far, so good. The programme is recording huge successes as envisaged in spite of the little hitches which had been totally overcome now.”
He admonished the people of the state to reciprocate the gesture by praying for the government as well as the peace and security of Nigeria.
“Wealthy individuals should also complement the noble gesture of the state government,” the Religious Affairs Commissioner further urged.
He however warned that, the government would not fold its arms and allow the laudable programme to be sabotaged by any person or group of persons.
A cross section of the residents of the city have also given a pat on the back of the state government for introducing the programme.
Indeed, the Ramadan feeding programme is Wamakko’s widow’s mite to the people of the state during this Holy and blessed month of Ramadan.
Mustapha wrote in from Sokoto.