Government’s sponsorship of pilgrimage, a constitutional breach – Elechi

Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State on Monday said that the government’s sponsorship of religious pilgrimages was a fundamental breach of the nation’s constitution.
The governor said this in Abakaliki while addressing the 369 intending Christian pilgrims from the state, who were travelling to Israel for this year’s pilgrimage.
Elechi said that the sponsorship of such programmes was tantamount to the use of public funds to satisfy the wishes of a small section of the population.
He said: “The majority of our people are pagans.
“So we, Christians and Muslims, are using our educational status to satisfy our own interests.
“If this pilgrimage issue is put into vote, one would discover that we would be the losers.”
Elechi, however, noted that if viewed from another angle, sponsorship of pilgrimages was desirable because the religious programme was aimed at transforming the lives of the people to serve the society better.
He added: “When we go there to renounce our sins, pray for change from our bad ways and then return home to practice all we have learnt, the funds spent on sponsoring the pilgrimage would be justified.
“We do not imbibe the attitudinal change tenets that are preached here everyday but the pilgrimage is, therefore, expected to make the necessary difference in our lives.”
The governor, nonetheless, warned the prospective pilgrims that they might be disillusioned on arrival in Israel, as there were no significant differences between the country’s environment and that of other places they might have visited.
“There is not much difference in the buildings, roads, industries, lifestyles of the Israelis, among others, but the experience would surely reaffirm your faith and belief in God.
“Most of the historical sites you have dreamt for long to see are no longer in their original forms, as they have undergone several renovations with modern architectural designs.”
Elechi charged the intending pilgrims to pray for the peace, progress and unity of the state and country.
Rev. Fr. Vincent Odom, the Chairman of the State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, thanked the governor for consistently demonstrating his commitment to the cause of Christianity in the state.
Odom noted that the state government had continued to sponsor pilgrims to the Holy land in spite of the other needs of the people, which the government was striving to provide.
“I want to inform you that all arrangements to ensure a smooth and successful pilgrimage have been concluded,” Odom said, pledging: “We will be good ambassadors of the state and country.”