Following the gradual climax of Hajj 2024, with their ascension of Mount Arafat, a night spent at Muzdalifa, Jamarat, and other rites, pilgrims from Ogun state have been advised to uphold the positive lessons of the pilgrimage upon their return to Nigeria.

Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, is not only a physical journey but also a profound spiritual experience filled with lessons for Muslims, including humility, submission to the will of Allah, patience, and forgiveness, among others. 

These lessons encourage Muslims to lead lives marked by compassion, self-discipline, and piety, which they are expected to continue long after the pilgrimage.

Speaking with journalists in Mecca, Commissioner for Education, Professor Abayomi Arigbabu, described the pilgrimage experience as a rebirth with Almighty Allah's predisposition to outright forgiveness of the sins of pilgrims, charging them to strive to desist from their sinful past.

Similarly, the National President of the Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle, Tricycle Repairers and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), Alhaji Samsudeen Apelogun, said the pilgrims should endeavor to always emulate the benevolence displayed by Governor Abiodun, who had prioritized the welfare of pilgrims, calling on them to retain all the lessons of good deeds learned during the pilgrimage.

"I want to use this opportunity to urge pilgrims to avoid any actions that might invalidate their Hajj before Allah. Also, we all must know the importance of maintaining purity in our deeds and intentions to ensure that our pilgrimage remains accepted and blessed," Apelogun added. 

Members of the State House of Assembly representing Abeokuta South 1 and Ijebu East respectively, Honourable Lukmon Atobatele and Honourable Waliu Owode, admonished the pilgrims to put their trust in Allah, saying it would be unfortunate for anyone to invest their resources into Hajj yet return to their old ways.

Meanwhile, the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Chief Jide Ojuko, called on the pilgrims to pray for Governor Abiodun's legacy to extend beyond the expiration of his tenure, saying it would be in the best interest of the state.

He said the people of the state should learn from past experiences in the current political dispensation by promoting the sustainability of the Governor's people-oriented programs beyond 2027.