Jerusalem, Mecca not for jamboree – Aliyu

The Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has admonished Nigerians not to see embarking on pilgrimages to the Holy lands in Jerusalem and Mecca as jamborees, but as exercises that will uplift and rejuvenate their spiritual lives.
Aliyu made the remarks in Minna, the Niger state capital, on Wednesday when he received the Executive Secretary of the National Christian Pilgrims Commission, Dr. John-Kennedy Opara, who was in the Government House to brief the governor on preparation for the 2014 pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
The governor explained that performance of pilgrimages will strengthen the faith of the pilgrims and make them better people who will contribute more meaningfully to the development of the society.
He said: “Pilgrimages are for moral and spiritual transformation.
“We must not look at pilgrimage as a jamboree.”
Aliyu also spoke against defection by pilgrims, while performing pilgrimage.
He said such attitude gives the country a bad name in the larger society, disclosing also that as a result of this, the Niger State Government has decided that only those resident in the state with verifiable guarantors will be allowed to register and perform pilgrimages from the state.
While commenting on the spate of insurgency in the country, Governor Aliyu asked Nigerians to support the government to bring the situation under control by offering information on the activities of insurgents to the security agencies.
He said: “We must check the charlatans among us.
“Anybody who will slaughter a human being is morally and spiritually bankrupt.”
Aliyu reemphasized the statement by the Presidency that the Army “is aware of the location of the abducted Chibok girls” but cannot act with the speed required because of the safety of the girls.
He said: “The military are aware where the girls are.
“They can’t act the way Nigerians want because we cannot throw away the baby and the bath water.”
Earlier, Opara had told the governor that 700 slots has been allotted to Niger State for this year’s Christian pilgrimage to Jerusalem, adding that efforts were being made to ensure the pilgrims are airlifted to the Holy land from the Minna airport.
Opara further disclosed that the Federal Government has reduced the cost for the performance of the pilgrimages by 9 per cent, which will make trip to Jerusalem to cost N364,000, while those going to Rome and Greece will pay N454,000.
He said this year’s pilgrimage will commence on October 2 and end in December.