UGWUANYI URGES ENUGU PILGRIMS TO PRAY FOR NIGERIAN LEADERS, PEACEFUL 2023 ELECTIONS
REPORTER: CHRISTIAN NWANGENE
Enugu State Governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has urged Christian pilgrims to pray for leaders in the country and peaceful elections in 2023.
Gov. Ugwuanyi made the call on Friday during the inauguration of December 2022 pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan with the 300 pilgrims sponsored by Enugu State Government.
The Governor said, “I implore you to pray for the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, all the 36 governors, the National Assembly members.
“Others are the members of the State Assemblies, all the local government chairmen and indeed, all those in authority in our country whom God had anointed to manager our affairs,” the Gov. appealed.
Governor Ugwuanyi also urged the pilgrims to pray for God’s intervention in the ravaging insecurity and economic hardship in the land as well as for more love and tolerance among the citizens.
He noted that Christians in the state, irrespective of the denomination, had been sponsored to pilgrimage to Holy Land within the state limited resources.
“It is usually an opportunity for christian faith have introspection, deepen their faith, pray for their state and families.
“Today, 300 pilgrims will be airlifted to the Holy Land of Israel and Jordan, sponsored by the state.
“I urge the pilgrim managers to ensure zero absconding of the pilgrims,” he charged them.
He enjoined them to be responsible, honest and good ambassador of the state.
Also, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrimage Commission (NCPC) Rev. Yakubu Pam, thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for his commitment to the welfare and spiritual wellbeing of Enugu people.
Rev. Pam told Ugwuanyi that, “Many are going there for the first time and prayer requests through whom you have approved their journey.”
He said Enugu State was the first to go for Dec. 2022 pilgrimage through the effort of their peace loving governor.
The Executive Secretary also thanked President Muhammdu Buhari for the enabling environment and the permission to go on with the exercise as well as the Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha, whom he said the commission reports directly to.
He advised those with intention of absconding to desist from it as the security agents were there to catch up with them.
The Chairman, Enugu State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, the Rev. Emmanuel Edeh, noted it would be the second time people are going on pilgrimage in the state this year.
“In July, 300 pilgrims were in Israel and Jordan and 30 in Rome, now 300 are gearing up,” he said.
He explained that pilgrims were selected across different stratas of the society, including doctors, professors, teachers, tricycle riders and market women drawn from christian denominations in Enugu State.
A beneficiary, Mr. Chekwube Umeh, thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for the opportunity given to them, saying, “Ordinarily there is no i could sponsor myself to Israel and Jordan.”
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
