JERUSALEM – The Bauchi state contingent on pilgrimage in Israel on Friday reiterated their resolve to consistently pray for peace, unity and peaceful conduct of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria.
Mr Abdon Gin, the leader of the contingent, stated this in Jerusalem in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Gin, who is also the state’s Head of Service said that Nigeria needed concerted prayers from Christians and Muslims for the sustenance of the nation’s peaceful co-existence and economic development.
He said that this was why the pilgrims from Bauchi state decided that security, peace, unity and peaceful general elections would remain their focal prayer points throughout their days in the Holy Land.
The leader of the contingent described pilgrimage as a tool for spiritual rebirth and a channel for supplication to God.
He called on all Christians from Nigeria currently in Israel for pilgrimage to continue to pray for themselves, their families and the country.
“Once we commit all the challenges currently dragging Nigeria backward in prayers, God almighty will intervene and all Nigeria’s problems will become history, particularly insecurity.
“It is what we have been doing for the past three days that we have been here because we believe God is closer to us in the holy land and will answer our prayers,’’ he said.
Gin, who expressed joy for the wonderful experience, added that what the pilgrims were passing through in the holy land could be described as “a life-time encounter with Jesus Christ’’.
“We are all happy and enjoying every bit of the tour to holy sites in Israel.
“Yesterday, we were in Jericho where we visited the Mount of Temptation as well as the Dead Sea.
“Today we will be heading to Nazareth. I tell you, this is a life-time experience for all of us.
“It is an opportunity for us to confirm all the stories we read in the Bible about the life and times of Jesus Christ.
“I am confident to tell you that our faith as individuals has been rebuilt,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the pilgrims were not happy because of their inability to celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem, the birth place of Jesus Christ.
The leader of the team did not hide his misgivings for the development.
“We were all looking forward to celebrating Christmas in Bethlehem where Jesus was born, but sadly due to some protocol issues, we could not make it to Bethlehem and instead; we ended up in Jericho.
“It was really sad but all the same, we had a fulfilled Christmas celebration, particularly with our visit to Jericho where we climbed the mountain that Satan tempted Jesus.
“It was a thrilling moment for all of us,’’ Gin said.
Rev. Solomon Jalo, a pilgrim, described the development as very unfortunate.
“It was really a sad story for us to be in the holy land and yet could not celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem.
“However, I can tell you that although we could not make it to Bethlehem we had a great time. The visits to numerous holy sites have been fascinating.
“The experience has brought us closer to God and has rekindled our faith,“ he said.
Another pilgrim, Mr Daniel Shawulu said, “it pained me to my bone when we learnt that we will not make it to Bethlehem due to protocol issues.
“All the same, it was a great experience for me to celebrate Christmas in the holy land.’’
Meanwhile, Rev. Shuabu Byel, the Chairman of the state’s Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board explained that the Bauchi state contingent could not celebrate Christmas in Bethlehem because of some protocol issues.
He stated that the schedule for visits to holy sites had been prepared by the tour agents before the team’s arrival in Israel.
He, however, disclosed that the visit to Bethlehem was scheduled for Dec. 30 and not Dec. 25 as some pilgrims had hoped for.
When contacted, the team’s Tour Guide, Mrs Smadar Ben-Beruch of Tailor Made Tours Ltd., expressed regrets for the company’s inability to take the team to Bethlehem for the Christmas celebration.
She said that her company took into account protocol issues, security matters and traffic gridlock from Jerusalem to Bethlehem to take the decision.
“So. our company felt that there was no need of taking the risk of spending Christmas in a bus due to traffic jam in an attempt to go to Bethlehem,“ Ben-Beruch said. (NAN)
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