NIGERIANS URGE TO TAKE BOKO HARAM CASE TO GOD AS NCPC HOLDS 2012  PRE PILGRIMAGE  RETREAT

Remi Oladoye.

 Various  speakers at the  just concluded  National Christian pre pilgrimage retreat  held in Lagos  has urged Christians in the country especially those  participating in the year 2012 pilgrimage  to take the case of insecurity and  others  problem facing Nigeria to God in prayer during their sojourn  to the holy land

  Among the speakers  who spoke at the retreat  entitled  Pilgrimage  as a tool for Moral transformation and Spiritual Rebirth were Lagos state governor Raji Fashola, Chairman  Nigeria Christian Pilgrimage  Commission  Most Rev Dr, Nicholas Oko, executive secretary of the commission  Mr. John  Kennedy Opara and  Right Reverend  Professor Dapo Asaju Bishop of Anglican Diocese  Badagry Lagos state.

 Governor Fashola who was represented by  his  commissioner for Home affairs Alhaji Mohammed Danmole   in his welcome address said  Nigerian should  see going to  pilgrimage  as an avenue to pray to  God   for intervention in the   insecurity and economic crisis facing Nigeria and  reiterate his  commitment to  support  people    embarking into the holy land  for spiritual  rebirth

 Also  the  Chairman of the commission  Rev Dr  Nicholas Okon,  Nigerians is a country where  leaders uprightness is  a scarce  commodity, which pave  ways for  indiscipline, disorder, corruption , injustice , robbery, rape  kidnapping  disunity among  the peoples of the nation. Adding that the inability of the leaders at various levels has culminated into the societal crisis which is affecting the nation today.

The Anglican Bishop also caution the religious leaders on immoralities and corruption in the church saying,” we clergy need to check ourselves to be sure that we are not guilty of what we accuse the politicians in government and charged them to be a good example.

 He however warned politician against fanning embers of division against the Unity of Nigeria, “most of the  politicians concentrate on their enclave rather than harmonising  together to   build a formidable centre,” fragmentation is not the problem but disunity an actually  help to weigh it down” he stated.

The executive secretary of the commission Mr. John Kennedy Opara in his address   explained  that the essence of   chosen the topic  for the retreat  is to sensitize participants on the need to se pilgrimage as a tools for moral and spiritual transformation. According  to him “ this is a moment that will define our course, our character, and our pilgrimage for decades to  come, if we succeed  in getting  our pilgrims to be morally and spiritually transformed, they will in turn transform  others and in no distant time our society will be morally  and spiritually transformed”.

 Mr Opara concluded by  appealing to Nigerian to continue to pray for the peace of the nation  and  work together to enhance harmony and peaceful co existence.

Earlier in his sermon, Professor Dayo Asaju  of Anglican Diocese of Badagry  gave  ten reason why pilgrimage  is important for  Christians who can afford it and  urge the  NCPC to live up to expectation  by  ensuring that going for pilgrimage is not for jamboree  but for  a spiritual and moral rebirth.

 Others  at the  retreat   were, chairmen and secretaries of   the 36 state  pilgrimage board in Nigeria and the FCT  , Federal commissioner  representing  the geo political zone  and others stakeholders including travel agencies