‘Pilgrimage, Not Commercial Venture’

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 spiritually rich went for pilgrimage.

He observed that the pilgrimage exercise had been turned into a jamboree, regretting that people of shady character and under age went for the exercise which was 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”.

Governor  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 its duties.

He thanked God that the Board was being inaugurated at an auspicious time when this year’s exercise was about to take place and prayed the Board not to betray 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 smiles on the faces of Deltans through quality governance, the governor enjoined the appointees to add value to the state government’s three point agenda.

“My administration is determined to put smiles on the faces of Deltans through quality governance. It is my hope that your appointment will add value to the state government’s three point agenda”, he said.