GOVERNOR Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has called on private
individuals and corporate organizations to be involved in the sponsorship
of pilgrims to the holy land.
The Governor made the call in Asaba on Monday when the Executive
Secretary Of Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, Rev. Kennedy Okpara
paid him a courtesy visit in Asaba.
According to him, “it is important for private persons and organizations
to sponsor people on pilgrimages to nourish our people spiritually.”
He assured the Commission that the Delta State Government would continue
to sponsor Deltans on pilgrimages noting that those sponsored does not
only pray for themselves but remember their sponsors in prayers while on
pilgrimage.
Dr Uduaghan said, “we want to assure the Commission that we will continue
to be part of your pilgrimage programmes, the pilgrimage apart from being
a blessing to the individuals, it has blessed the state tremendously
because they also pray for the state.”
He thanked Rev. Okpara for supporting President Goodluck Jonathan’s
administration, “thank you (Rev. Okpara) for the way you passionately
support the President and his wife, we know the President is going through
a lot of challenges, so, we appreciate anybody who supports the President
and prays for Nigeria.”
Rev. Okpara said they were on sensitization tour of the state ahead of the
flag off of this year’s pilgrimage on October 18.
He commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration for its
contributions to the development of Nigeria, especially, Delta State.
“You (Dr Uduaghan) are a man that has always surprised me in so many ways,
you are a man of few words but packed with actions, you believed in Delta
State and the transformation agenda of Mr President, we are proud of you
and the entire country is proud of you,” the Executive Secretary stated.