Nazareth (Israel) – Pilgrimage sponsorship by state governments is the best way of impacting the lives of the electorate, Mrs Hassana Ayika, Acting Secretary, Plateau Pilgrims Welfare Board, has said.
Ayika, who is also the Director of Administration of the board, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Nazareth, Israel, on Wednesday.
The leader of the third batch of pilgrims from Plateau currently in the holy land commended the state governor, Simon Lalong, for sponsoring 1,122 pilgrims for the exercise.
She disclosed that out of all the states, Plateau always sponsored the highest number of pilgrims on the annual spiritual voyage.
She said that the gesture was a better way of appreciating the poor electorate, who voted them into power than sharing money.
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“The state government uses this avenue to touch the lives of the electorate, people with spiritual aspiration; it is better than sharing money.
“When you bring these kinds of people who cannot afford to come to Israel by themselves, it is like taking them to heaven.
“Plateau is a religious seat in the North, because the people are predominantly Christians,’’ Ayika said.
According to her, the state government spent about N700 million on the exercise, excluding the 500-dollar Basic Travel Allowance given to each pilgrim.
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She said that uniforms were also distributed to the pilgrims free of charge and that buses were provided to transport the pilgrims from Jos to Abuja and food was provided for them.
Ayika, therefore, advised the pilgrims to focus on the spiritual exercise and pray for the success of the Lalong-led administration and for peace in the state and Nigeria.
She also reminded them to pray for Nigeria and Israel to overcome their security challenges and for economic prosperity. (NAN)