Dino Melaye, a former senator from Kogi State and prominent member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has attacked government support of religious events, contending that public funds ought to be allocated to infrastructure, healthcare, and other aspects of national development.

Melaye questioned why the government should spend billions of naira supporting religious pilgrimages to Jerusalem and Mecca when wealthy people, churches, and mosques could help those who want to travel there.

He made the case that religious pilgrimages shouldn’t be handled by the government, emphasising that neither Islam nor Christianity require visiting sacred locations in order to enter paradise.

He believes that rather than allocating public funds to religious activities, the government ought to be more concerned with the terrible condition of the nation’s roads and hospitals.

“Even Jerusalem that you are going to, just close to Mount Sinai where you will go to, there’s an ashawo joint by the edge there,” he said.

Melaye claimed to be a spiritual person and not to be against people’s religious views, despite his rejection of the government’s participation in religion.

“I am a spiritual person, but my spirituality and celestial relationship with God is personal,” he said.

He argued that as religion is essentially a personal affair, state resources intended for citizens’ development should not be diverted to religious activities.

Melaye further supported his claim that organisations can operate without official religious prayers by citing his experience attending UN meetings, such as the UN General Assembly.

He claimed that even though the UN continued to run well, there was neither an open prayer nor a closing prayer at the events he attended.

“Religion is personal. It’s individualistic,” Melaye said, adding that individuals would ultimately be accountable for their relationship with God.