The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Kennedy Opara at the weekend announced that President Goodluck Jonathan will this week depart Nigeria for Israel with 19 state governors and some cabinet members as part of the 2013 Christian pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

President Jonathan who flagged off the 2013 pilgrimage to the Holy land in Abuja on Saturday night also evaluated the history of pilgrimage in Nigeria and submitted that the hitherto spiritual exercise had lost its real essence, saying many Nigerians saw it as a leeway to engage in commercial activities.

He lamented that even at a time when Nigerians were supposed to draw closer to God, they had continued to negate the spiritual essence of the trip, urging Nigerians to use pilgrimages as avenues to seek divine intervention in the affairs of the country.

“In recent times, pilgrimage has lost its essence because many people have commercialised it. The current situation in the country demands that we all join hands to fight terrorism. We must not allow terrorism to derail us from delivering the dividends of democracy.

“We are fighting a serious battle but we are not alone. Christ is with us and so we must put on the whole armour of faith,” he said.
The president was represented by Senate President, David Mark at the event. President Jonathan is the first sitting Nigerian leader to embark on the Christian pilgrimage.

President Jonathan is also expected to sign a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), with Israeli authorities while in the Holy land.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/pilgrimage-jonathan-19-govs-ministers-storm-israel/


Yes. GEJ is on pilgrimage to the holy land and from what I know he left on Saturday or Sunday.

So let us see your hate filled posts on this.

I am beginning to suspect our president,first,it was his wife with the peace house(I wonder if she knows the meaning of that,cause she won't want to be reminded of Amaechi's fight),then,National Confab,now Pilgrimage to the holy land,I wonder what next cause am sure,this certainly is not the end but just the beginning.

I am waiting for the Ifa/Kabbah worshipers from Osun to raid this board...

Front page tinz mods don't be partial oo

kennyamusan: I am beginning to suspect our president,first,it was his wife with the peace house(I wonder if she knows the meaning of that,cause she won't want to be reminded of Amaechi's fight),then,National Confab,now Pilgrimage to the holy land,I wonder what next cause am sure,this certainly is not the end but just the beginning.

alas, a bokoville arrives.

Before your stone worshiping pilgrimage began, Christians have been going on pilgrimage to the holy land.

You are not used to the idea afterall, this is the first christian president to embark on such a trip.

Why is it an issue for you intolerant stone worshipers?

kennyamusan: I am beginning to suspect our president,first,it was his wife with the peace house(I wonder if she knows the meaning of that,cause she won't want to be reminded of Amaechi's fight),then,National Confab,now Pilgrimage to the holy land,I wonder what next cause am sure,this certainly is not the end but just the beginning.

are you with ur rite mind?

Nigerian Christian Pilgrimage Commission Aircraft (NCPC)

Christain Pilgrims Vs Kabah Pilgrims

May I use this medium to inform some of my unlearned collegues here that going by the antecedent of things happening in Nigeria now,it is no far fetch that the political sector is heated up.I wonder what the problem is with Nigerians,the mere mention of any religious activity is seen as an act of holiness ,Nigerians claim holier than thou habit and this is one of the major distubance we have.During the previous Holy Ghost conf of the RCCG,he went kneeling down for prayer,this generates lot of sentiment both home and abroad,recently he commissioned a power project,rescused victims on the highway,but if I may ask what has he done about Boko haram in the last one year,what jobs has the FG created in the past 2 years,our Almight ICPC and EFCC are broke for the past one year,ASUU is on strike cause his children are not in Nigeria,stella bought 255m dollars bullet proof cars,Nitel workers are groaning,children are dying,youth are helpless yet he wants to give us the impression that religious sentiment would win us over.I am not moved as you can never tell a blind man that it is rainy,all this is geared up towards 2015 election but I weep for Nigeria,I weep for my country cos Nigerian are foolish,My people are destroyed cos of lack of wisdom,knowledge and COMMON SENSE which many claim to have but lack internally,I don't like his way of life but I love his song,fela has said it all.A true prophet wld never visited any Holy land but knows the intricases of life(u are entitled to ur opinion).Let's face it, we need actions and not fashion.if he likes let him go 2 mecca as well.Faith is justified by work and not mouth or travelling,Llet him go there and see how true leaders are ruling their country as brave men and not as chicken.shikena

kennyamusan: During the previous Holy Ghost conf of the RCCG,he went kneeling down for prayer,this generates lot of sentiment both home and abroad

only you muslims were p1ssed to see a man humble himself before his God.

kennyamusan: ,but if I may ask what has he done about Boko haram in the last one year,

keep sponsoring them, and GEJ will keep bombing them

Where were you when Yaradua performed both lesser and greater hajjs in 2 years succession.

Please just shut up

eL hAJJ (PILGRIM) GEJ SOUNDS NICE

i like this gej for one thing....the spirit always leads him somehow

hehehe....I hope this is not the true picture of the people on the pilgrimage....they reming me of Babiala PH beggers of the 1980's

all this unnecessary travel here and there....


When David Cameron travels, it is to bring in billions of pounds of business.....Nigeria own sef na wa!!!....

slap1: I bet my October salary that T. A Orji is among them.

that short thing bah?

If I may ask what pilgrimage are christians doing in jerusalem, is it tourist or picnic?

Waste of time, money, human resources and slots of people that worth it.

Hmmm. Nigeria.

So they gonna leave their official duties just for a "fancy pilgrimage" tour to Israel??

36 - 19 = 17

So 17 Governors will be left @ home.

alotofgrace:

that short thing bah?

Haha. Na you talk am o!

haba! Make all of them go naa! Na me go pay?

finally a christain seating president is going on a pilgrimage like our past muslim presidents. But I know many bigots will see everything wrong with this move, isokay! u guys can bring it on

BASA with d State of Isreal will be signed. That's very Good..... That's what concerns me. PILGRIMAGIES are Personal events with yr God; it does not reali concern it...

Magic Bishop: Christain Pilgrims Vs Kabah Pilgrims

The christian pilgrim look like people going for holiday or tourist

Hmmmm, i hope he will settle ASUU b4 he leaves or he immediately he comes back

Hoping that the spiritual essence of the pilgrimage will be inculcated in them

President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, approved the appointments of the former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ahmadu Ali and 19 othersaschairmen of 20Federal Government parastatals.

The list indicatesthat Senator Ali, also one time Federal Commissioner for Education during the military administration of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, would now head the National Universities Commission, NUC, asChairman.

This was contained in a statement issued last night by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim.

Otherson the list were former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran who now heads the West African Examinations Council; former Senate PresidentAmeh Ebutte, now presides over the National Open University of Nigeria; Hon. Bala Ka’oje, former National Secretary of PDP, now Chairman of Federal College of Education (Technical), Gusau and National Broadcasting Commission with Dr. Herbert Orji as Chairman.

Other appointees are: Chief Yinka Akintola, for National PressCouncil and Maj. Gen. Barau Said (rtd) as Chairman for Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi. Also, National Eye Hospital, Kadunanow has Dr. Abisola Clark asnew Chairman; National Obstetrics Fistula Centre, Abakaliki hasMrs. Josephine Elechi to preside, while National Board for Technical Education, wiill be presided over by Mrs. Yejide Ogundipe.

Federal Polytechnic, Bali, Niger State, has Col. Theophilus Bamigboye (rtd) aschairman and Federal Polytechnic, Birnin – Kebbi -Adamu Maina Waziri.

Othersinclude: Federal Polytechnic, Bali, Taraba State-Pastor Yusuf Alfa; Federal Polytechnic, Kazaure – Senator Onyema Okoroafor; Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State – Dr. Christian Azubuike Odukwe; Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Bayelsa State -Mr. Bekeakpo Etifa; Nigerian Centre for Metallurgical Development-Hon. John Ikemefuna; Teacher’sRegistration Council- Prof. Greg Iwu; National Council for Artsand Culture -Professor Nelson Branbayefa and National Centre for Women Development, Mrs. Becky Ketebu-Igwe.

Y is he going with 19 governors and other unamed cabinet members. If they are going from their own purse fine but if otherwise then it's a waste of our national resources. If not for our shameless selfish leaders Nigerians do not have any reason to suffer.

Another jamboree!!!

ASUU is on strike but this guy is going on a personal pilgrimage with 19 other governors at public expense?


Ill-advised and lacking in sensitivity.

Magic Bishop:

alas, a bokoville arrives.

Before your stone worshiping pilgrimage began, Christians have been going on pilgrimage to the holy land.

You are not used to the idea afterall, this is the first christian president to embark on such a trip.

Why is it an issue for you intolerant stone worshipers?

Who are d bokoville, u are very stupid for dat

is dis pilgrimage different from d pilgrimage some people do during osun osogbo festival,all na religious tourism,dis is no place in d Bible where it was mentioned dat if u don't go to Jerusalem u aiint going to make heaven or dat going dere will u better...