Contrary to the initial position of the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christians Pilgrims Commission, John-Kennedy Opara, President Goodluck Jonathan is to combine his pilgrimage to Israel with an official visit to the country.
\nA statement from the Presidency on Tuesday said that Jonathan will combine both his religious rites with an official visit to Israel.
\nOpara had last week said the President\u2019s visit to Israel was purely religious.
\nA statement by presidential spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, said that Jonathan will late on Wednesday embark on the pilgrimage to Israel.
\nPresident Jonathan is to meet with President Shimon Peres, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset.
\nAbati said talks between Jonathan\u2019s delegation and Israeli government officials are expected to focus on the enhancement of bilateral relations between Nigeria and Israel in areas including trade, economic development, infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, communications, culture, education and tourism.
\nThe President is also scheduled to meet with the President of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas.
\nJonathan, who will be accompanied on the trip by Senator Emmanuel Paulker; the Minister of Agriculture, Akinwunmi Adesina; the Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe; the Minister of Works, Architect Mike Onolememen; the Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), Prof. Viola Onwuliri; and the National Security Adviser, Colobel Sambo Dasuki, will undertake a tour of some locations in Israel, which are revered by Christians because of their association with the earthly mission of Jesus Christ.
\nAbati added: \u201cWhile the President may meet and interact with some other Nigerians who are already on a pilgrimage to Israel, reports in the media that he is leading 19 state governors and about 30,000 Nigerians to Israel are a misrepresentation of facts.
\n\u201cIrrespective of President Jonathan\u2019s visit, thousands of Nigerians visit Israel annually during the pilgrimage season which goes on for months and they will undoubtedly do so again between now and early next year.
\n\u201cIt is entirely fortuitous for some of these Nigerian pilgrims therefore that their visit to Israel this year will coincide with President Jonathan\u2019s.
\n\u201cPresident Jonathan is expected back in Abuja early next week.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Contrary to the initial position of the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christians Pilgrims Commission, John-Kennedy Opara, President Goodluck Jonathan is to combine his pilgrimage to Israel with an official…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18470,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n