Pilgrimage : Achuba leads Kogi Contingents to Jerusalem, harps on good conducts

The Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Elder Simon Achuba has charged the 125 intending Christian Pilgrims from the State to conduct themselves in a manner that will honour God while in Jerusalem and other holy sites where they shall congregate to pray.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Akor Sylvester, the Deputy Governor gave the charge at a seminar organized for intending Pilgrims from the State held at the Apostolic Church, Ajara quarters, Lokoja,by the Kogi State Christian Pilgrimage Commission.

He urged the intending Pilgrims to hold on to the purpose of the Holy exercise by avoiding any act that is capable of abusing the good intentions of the government under Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State.

While noting that the exercise should not be seen as a carnival, the Deputy Governor warned that no man or woman should contemplate defection or abscondment while in the Holy land or engage in any unholy acts.

He further cautioned that any beneficiary with evil thought should drop it as according to him the eyes of the law is watching over their conducts, movement and even their interactions with other Pilgrims.

The Deputy Governor informed that Israeli government has one of the best security networks in the world, stating that the Kogi state internal security mechanism in conjunction with Israel government will nab any attempt by individual who decides to do otherwise.

He advised the beneficiaries to use their period in the holy land to act in the love of Christ, live and lead by example and let the name of Jesus be glorified.

The deputy governor while placing on record that the state had in the past participated in the Christian Pilgrimage, said this year’s exercise is packaged in accordance with the new direction policy of the present administration of the state led by governor Yahaya Bello.

He said that governor Yahaya Bello, having been led by the Holy Spirit, extended the gesture of performing the Holy exercise to some Nigerians who are not of kogi state extraction, and who will join the state contingents in Holy Land to collectively pray for the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari and kogi state in particular.

The Deputy Governor who is the leader of this year’s state contingents asked God to bless the president he described as man of wisdom, strong character, good intentions and interest in religious faith.

He commended the efforts of the management and staff of Christian Pilgrims Commission for ensuring a successful screening, urging them to sustain the tempo even in the Holy Land.

Earlier, the Christian Association of Nigeria (C A N) chairman, Bishop John Ibenu assured that the intending Pilgrims will represent the state well, while commending the state government for sponsoring the trip to the Holy Land.

He congratulated the intending Pilgrims, urging them to use the spiritual exercise to pray for a turning point for the State and the present administration.

Also speaking, the acting chairman of the state Pilgrims Commission, Sunday Ayetan called on the pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the State while in the holy land, maintaining that their stay in the holy land is an opportunity to seek the face of the living God.

He said the seminar was organized to acquaint the pilgrims on what is expected of them while in the holy land.