By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi
Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has tasked this year’s, 2025 Bauchi state intending christian pilgrims to Jerusalem in Israel to focus on the religious obligation, and not to reduce the spiritual exercise to mere shopping spree, jamboree or pleasure trip.
The Governor, Sunday while bidding farewell well to the intending pilgrims contingent, scheduled for airlift today Monday, implored upon them, emphasized that the spiritual contents of the pilgrimage should not be diluted with worldly pleasure and overindulgence by the pilgrims.
He reminded the pilgrims that the state government is very much concern about the welfare of its citizens within and outside the country, hence it’s decision to made adequate provisions for their security, transportation, feeding, accommodation and medical services while in Jerusalem.
Senator Bala Mohammed told the Bauchi ambassadors to Jerusalem to strictly observe the tenets of the religious exercise for a seamless and rewarding pilgrimage, and prayed Almighty God in His bounties to guide them accordingly.
Governor Bala described pilgrimage as the selection of sophisticated people that are spiritually identified, selected and chosen by God as believers to undertake a spiritual journey to the Holy land following Jesus footsteps to seek much deeper knowledge of Christianity
“As a spiritual exercise, pilgrimage affords pilgrims to the opportunity to come nearer their creator and pray for forgiveness of their shortcomings and turn a new leaf for their salvation”.
Governor Bala explained that it is in consideration of the importance of this religious ritual, the governor said, the state government decided to sponsor all the 356 intending Christian pilgrims in the state for the 2025 pilgrimage.
“The pilgrimage is a journey to commune with God and to see Biblical relics which will help pilgrims affirm their faith and belief that the Biblical stories are real, at the end of which pilgrims would be spiritually rejuvenation”.
He further told the religious ambassadors that pilgrimage is a journey to commune with God and to see Biblical relics which will help pilgrims affirm their faith and belief that the Biblical stories are real, at the end of which pilgrims would be spiritually rejuvenated.
The Governor also reminded them that God has made that they were going for a specially spiritual journey by courtesy of the government, and urged them to be good ambassadors of their families, communities, Bauchi, Nigeria and Christianity while in the Holy land.
Senator Bala Mohammed stated that it was in consideration of the importance of this religious ritual that the Bauchi state government decided to sponsor all the 356 intending Christian pilgrims in the state for the 2025 pilgrimage.
The State Commissioner of Religious Affairs and Societal Reorientation, Eng. Muhammad Binni Abdulkadir has in a remark appealed to the intending Christian pilgrims to carry the image of the state with pride and dignity, as well as be worthy ambassadors of the country in the Holyland.
Engr. Abdulkadir implored upon the Pilgrims to let discipline, humility, and good character guide their actions at all times, prayed them safe, peaceful and richly rewarding journey, as well as straighten their faiths to contribute to the, moral, society and developmental progress of the state.
The Executive Secretary of Bauchi State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Hon. Ibrahim Muhammed Gwallang has earlier in a welcome address inexpressed gratitude to the state governor for his practical demonstration of fairness, justice and equity in the discharge of his office duties
Hon Gwallang noted that the Governor has never for once shown any discriminatory tendency in the way hr relates with adherents of the two major religions in the state, saying “You have through your policy of inclusion been carrying each and every segment of the State along in implementing the policies and programmes of your Government”.
Gwallang added, “This gesture of fairness and justice is amply demonstrated in the way you have been sponsoring Christians in the State to go for the holy pilgrimage. In this particular instance it is an understatement to say that you have been fair to Christian in Bauchi State because every year the State Government pays for all Christians who perform the pilgrimage”.
He assured that while in the Holy land they will fervently pray for the continue peace and development of the state and the country in general, as well as offer special prayers for God to guide, protect and give the governor more wisdom and good health to continue to run the affairs of the state.
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