Bauchi State Govt. sponsors 417 Christians for 2014 pilgrimage

Bauchi, Sept. 26, 2014 (NAN) The Chairman, Bauchi State Christians Pilgrims Welfare Board, Rev. Shuibu Byel, said on Friday that the state government would sponsor 417 Christians to Israel for the 2014 pilgrimage.

Byel announced this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi.

“With 417 penciled for sponsorship this year, the total number of Christians sponsored by the state government would be 2,725 from 2007 to date.

“This is the only state that sponsored such large number of Christians to Israel,’’ he said.

The chairman commended Gov. Isa Yuguda for the gesture and urged the government to continue to carry everybody along in spite of religious, cultural and political differences.

“Generally, I will tell you that the governor has been generous, kind and supportive of the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board.

“His emphasis was that we should go there and have quality time with God and pray for the country for peace and tranquility.

“His support on pilgrimage cuts across state boundaries. He has been supporting people from other states which demonstrate his administration’s religious and tribal tolerance.

“This is a clear indication of Yuguda’s quest to ensure that the state is peaceful, hospitable and accommodating to achieve the desired unity in diversity, through people oriented government,’’ he said.

Byel said that the essence of the pilgrimage was for the Christians to see for themselves first hand, all the things they had read in the bible and for spiritual upliftment.

He said that prospective pilgrims would be screened to verify their credentials and confirm the information provided in their applications to avoid contradiction and falsification.

The chairman said that Sept. 29 had been fixed for the exercise, adding that all participants were required to appear in the board’s office along with the original copies of their e-passport and other supporting documents.

Byal decried the lukewarm attitude of Christians in the state who spent their wealth on worldly pleasures to the detriment of their religious rites.

He called on Christians, especially wealthy individuals, to sponsor themselves to Israel, to complement government’s efforts in promoting the programme. (NAN)

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