Senator Anayo Rochas Okorocha, the former governor of Imo state, has admonished Northern Governors to, instead of dissipating energy in checking the Almajirai menace in the North, that they should tackle poverty and the scourge of Almajirai will automatically disappear.
According to to the senator, the northern elites and governors have a role to play, which is educating the almajiri kids and providing food for them, as hunger influences the degrading culture of begging on the streets. This he said is better than humiliating them on the course of repatriating them to their home States.
He said: “These children (Almajirai) need help; educate them and give them jobs. Who knows, one of them could be a president tomorrow.
“The governors and other rich individuals should help transform the Almajirinci system of Islamic education instead of subjecting them to humiliation. Many of our prominent people now were once Almajirai.
“Hunger and poverty are the problems. The governors should look at that and help resolve it. The Almajirai are not the problem.
“The Almajirinci system had its origin from the migration of Prophet Muhammad (PBH). When he migrated from Mecca some people followed him in search of knowledge and they were catered for. They were not left hungry. They were fed.
“Some of us have materials that we don’t need, give such things to the Almajirai and help improve their lives. We all have children” he concluded.