Gov. Obiano promises to support 2014 Christian pilgrimage exercise

By NCPC Media

Executive Secretary Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission NCPC, Mr. John Kennedy Opara, presenting the 2014 NCPC calender of activities and the approved package  to the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Chief. Dr. Willie Obiano for the 2014 Christian Pilgrimage exercise during NCPC Sensitization visit to Anambra State.

The Executive Governor of Anmabra State, Chief Dr Willie Obiano has said that Anambra State Government will do everything humanly possible to ensure a hitch free 2014 pilgrimage exercise. He disclosed this when the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Mr John Kennedy Opara and his Federal Commissioners paid him a sensitization visit at Awka, Anambra State Capital.

 He thanked the Executive Secretary and his team for their visit to the State. He further thanked Mr President for allocating 850 seats to Anambra State. He promised that he would use his good offices to ensure that all the five block of CAN and Christian Leaders are represented and carried along in this year’s pilgrimage exercise.

He commended the NCPC boss for his visionary leadership style and for how he has piloted the affairs of pilgrimage in Nigeria, according to him, “you have worked effortlessly to ensure that Christians enjoy the best of pilgrimage in Nigeria”, he added “God will bless all your efforts and help you do more for the Commission and for Nigeria as a whole”

Speaking earlier ,the Executive Secretary of NCPC Mr. John Kennedy Opara congratulated the Governor on his victory over the gubernatorial election and prayed that God will give him the enablement to serve the good people of Anambra State, in his words “it is God who has given you this position and he will give u the wisdom to do the work he was brought you to do”.

Mr Opara commended the Governor for his visible developmental project in the state within the short period he has assumed office in the areas of road constructions, Medical care service, and environmental sanitisation “you have really touched the lives of the people of Anambra within your short time in office”. He further commended him for being able to pay the outstanding pension and gratuity arrears of local government pensioners in the state and prayed that God will reward his good work of labour.

He told his host that him and his Federal Commissioners were in the State to sensitise the people of Anambra state in preparation of the 2014 pilgrimage exercise. He further told the Governor that Commission runs three pilgrimage packages in a year: The Easter Pilgrimage which runs from March-April, Family Pilgrimage runs from July-September and the main pilgrimage in October. 

The NCPC helmsman maintained that the Commission is using pilgrimage as a tool for moral and spiritual transformation. He explained that people who go on pilgrimage to the Holy Land have an encounter with God they will come back transformed, they will affect their society positively and would help to change Nigeria and make it a better place.  He urged the Governor to encourage well able Christians and business men in the State to sponsor Christians who cannot afford to sponsor themselves to the Holy Land, because according to him “pilgrimage should be for those who are spiritually rich but materially poor”.

He informed the Governor that Mr President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan had approved a concessionary exchange rate of $1 dollar N150 naira for this year’s pilgrimage exercise and further informed him that Mr President has allocated 850 seats to Anambra State for this year’s pilgrimage exercise.