Jerusalem -The Plateau Government has requested the Israeli Government to invest in the State, saying its climate was good for agriculture and tourism.
Mr Rotji Waklek, the state government’s representative in the batch four pilgrimage to the Holy Land, made the call in Jerusalem on Tuesday.
Waklek spoke during the decoration of the pilgrims on their successful completion of the exercise.
He commended the friendly bilateral relations between Nigeria and Israel and urged Israeli to invest in Plateau’s agriculture, tourism and technological development.
He also commended Israel for preserving the holy sites and creating the enabling environment for Christians all over the world to come for pilgrimage.
He reminded the pilgrims that “Nigeria is in need of men and women of character to move the nation forward and therefore, urged them to serve as positive change agents on their return home.
Rev. Zion Ibenye, the Commissioner representing South East zone in the National Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), admonished the pilgrims to shun hatred.
Quoting from 1 John, chapter 5 verse 21 which says “little children, keep yourselves from idols’’, Ibenye said that worshipping idols hinders one’s blessings.
“If you engage in hatred, you are carrying an idol; if you live with an idol, it will make nonsense of your new status as Jerusalem Pilgrim (JP).
“If anyone has offended you, let go and sort it out with God this night before you leave Israel, so that the blessing of your coming to the holy land will be maximised.’’
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The commissioner commended Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau for launching the 2015 October-December Pilgrimage and also sponsoring the largest number of pilgrims numbering 1,122.
President of Tabar Tours, the local tour organisers, Mr Joseph Tabar, said the main focus of the company was to ensure that pilgrims’ spiritual lives were enhanced.
“You read in the Bible about Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and other holy sites, but when you visit these sites as you have just successfully done, you have a strong spiritual inspiration.’’
According to him, only two per cent of the Israeli population of 8.5 million people are Christians as against 80 per cent Jews, 18 per cent Muslims.
He described the Christians as the living stones without whom the holy sites would have been “ugly stones.’’
He thanked Christians worldwide for their unequivocal support to their counterparts in Israel, thereby making the preservation of the sites possible.
Tabar said that being a Jerusalem Pilgrim or Jesus People, was an honour as well as a great responsibility and charged the pilgrims to live out their new status in their conduct, behaviour and relationship with people.
He prayed for peace, stability and prosperity in Nigeria as well as peace in the holy land.
Mrs Hassana Ayika, Acting Secretary, Plateau Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, advised the pilgrims to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and love in order to serve as a point of reference for others to emulate.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the fourth batch of Plateau pilgrims numbering about 300, received the JP certificates alongside NCPC and self-sponsored pilgrims. (NAN)