Ekiti State Government has charged intending pilgrims to Isreal to be worthy ambassadors by refraining from acts that can tarnish the good name of the state.
The Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, gave the charge at a special farewell service, held at Government House Chapel, Ado Ekiti, for Ekiti contingents to this year’s holy pilgrimage.
In a statement by Special Assistant on Media to Deputy governor ,Victor Ogunje, urged the contingents to pray for Nigeria and Ekiti State in particular, saying, Nigeria is in need of divine intervention that will bring about the desired accelerated socio-economic transformation.
Mrs Afuye appealed to the pilgrims to steer clear of any act that could tarnish the image of the State and bring the christendom to opprobrium .
She said; “I enjoin you not to perceive this journey as a period for merriment, but to see the pilgrimage as a life time opportunity. Comply with all the rules, don’t act lawlessly, so that you won’t tarnish the image of our country.
“There are long standing immigration rules guiding your conducts, kindly observe and obey them. Ekiti had always had one of the best contingents since inception and this shouldn’t be an exemption”.
Afuye added that the present administration under Governor Biodun Oyebanji , has remained the vanguard of peaceful co-existence among diverse religions, urging the intending pilgrims to offer prayers against any insurrection in the facet of religious crisis in Ekiti .
In his sermon at the spiritual procession, the CAN Chairman in Ekiti State, Reverend Emmanuel Aribasoye, told the pilgrims that God, the State and their families expect a positive change of behaviour after the pilgrimage to substantiate the fact that the holy journey has made a tremendous positive impacts in their lives.
In their addresses, the Government House Chaplain, Pastor Segun Awolumate and the Executive Secretary, Ekiti State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, urged them not to involve in any frivolities that could jeopardise the kernel mission of their voyage to Israel.
They admonished the contingents to consecrate themselves to God, and intercede fervently through spiritual supplications for Nigeria to surmount the multifarious crises pummeling it.