Abuja – President
Goodluck Jonathan has called on all intending Christian Pilgrims to pray for a peaceful, successful
conduct of the 2015
election and the safe
return of the abducted
Chibok girls.
Jonathan, who was
represented by the
President of the Senate, David Mark, made the call on Saturday in Abuja at
the inauguration of the 2014 Christian
Pilgrimage.
The occasion coincided with the transportation of the first batch of 250
Christian pilgrims from the Federal Capital Territory who would be visiting Israel, Greece and
Rome.
He said that Christians
should not forget that the main essence of
pilgrimage was to pray and be spiritually reborn in order to live better lives and to affect the lives of the people around them positively.
“Do not forget the
significance of pilgrimage, we need a rebirth and this rebirth must first begin with us for true transformation.
“Let us all pray for the
safe release of the Chibok girls and let us also pray for the peaceful conduct
of the 2015 general
elections,’’ he said.
The president expressed optimism that the truce reached between the government and Boko Haram would truly lead to lasting peace in the country.
He assured Nigerians that insecurity would not derail the Transformation
Agenda from actualising its purpose, stressing that God himself was taking the lead in the fight against insecurity.
Jonathan urged Christians not to view the pilgrimage as an avenue for doing business but should maintain a clean sheet without absconding as it had been recorded over the last few years.
In his remark, Executive Secretary of the National Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) John Kennedy Okpara, said that the government of Israel commended Nigeria for having a good record of no absconding pilgrims in the last few years.
He expressed gratitude to
God and the government for the support which the commission had received in conducting a successful
pilgrimage.
He expressed the hope
that upon their return,
the pilgrims would have become spiritually re-dedicated to God and
would impart the good thing they had learnt to people around them.
Also speaking, the
Chairman of the Board of NCPC and Primate of the Anglican Church, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, urged all contractors and handlers to treat the pilgrims with respect.
“Pilgrims must also
endeavour to be their
brothers’ keeper during this pilgrimage; do not resist corrections, stay together as one,’’ he said.
Over 30,000 pilgrims are targeted for the
pilgrimage. (NAN)
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/10/pray-2015-elections-chibok-girls-release-jonathan-tells-intending-pilgrims/

LOL! He should do his own part in ensuring free and fair election.

To whom much(prayer) is given, lot is expected.

In nigeria all is about praying why not acting.

Nigeria is the only land where the goverment pay the people that they can go to pilgrimage.

what is so important that they have to fly to a country who treats black like animals.

I know from what I speak because I know about the documentation about hte woman who got medicine from the goverment of Israel that they couldnot got pregnant and they didnot know this.

a country with a double standart.