Delta State Governor Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has charged the Christian Pilgrim Welfare Board to prayerfully attack the ills plaguing Pilgrimage so that a religious exercise was not turned into a commercial venture.
Dr Emmunel Uduaghan who gave the charge during the inauguration of the State Christians Pilgrim Welfare Board in Asaba urged the members to ensure that only people of good character who are spiritual rich went for pilgrimage.
He observed that the pilgrim exercise has been turned into a jamboree regretting that people of shady characters and under age went for the exercise which is exclusively reserved for Christians.
He particularly referred to a case where a non Christian who has not embraced Christianity made the pilgrimage list some years back and humorously asked “What kind of pilgrimage will an idol worshiper go for in the holy land when he has not been converted to Christianity”.
“We are very much against turning pilgrimages into tourism. We expect that the Board will do a good job in ensuring that Christians of good character go for pilgrimage in the holy land”.
Dr. Uduaghan also enjoined them to eschew selfishness and place the people’s interest above all considerations and strive to match their action with the pace already set by the government.
The governor also enjoined them to continue to pray for the success of his administration, explaining that if the state government succeeds the church will be proud to give glory to Almighty God.
He therefore urged the Board to employ decorum and moderation in the discharge of their duties.
He thanked God that the Board was being inaugurated at an auspicious time when this years exercise was about to take place and prayed the Board not to betrayed the confidence placed on it.
The governor stressed the importance of pilgrimage describing it as spiritually nourishing and urged them to make the best of it.
Explaining the determination of his administration to put smile on the faces of Deltans through quality governance the governor enjoined the appointees to hard value to the state government three point agenda.
“My administration is determined to put smile on the faces of Deltans through quality governance. It is my hope that your appointment will add value to the state government three point agenda.
The Chairman of the Board Arch Bishop God-do-well Awomakpa who expressed appreciation to the state government for appointing them and appealed to Deltans not to distract them through undue influence.
Arch Bishop Awomakpa also appealed to Deltans not to do anything that will corrupt members especially through barrage of requests.
Members of the Board are Bishop Justus Mogekwu, Rev. Ralph Itoth, Rev. Clifford Amatesinro and Rev. Fr. Christopher Ekabor.
Others are Rev. Dr. Okonye Cyril Ifechukwude and Ven. Moses Elumerie while Rev. P.F. Anyasi would serve as Secretary.
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