Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, has charged intending Muslim Pilgrims from the State to intensify prayers for God’s intervention over the Nation’s socio-economic realities.
Independent reports that the Governor gave the charge during a farewell address to the state’s first batch of intending Muslim pilgrims at the Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board office.
Governor Inuwa told the intending Pilgrims before their movement to Saudi Arabia to “Intensify prayers for yourselves, Gombe State and Nigeria for God’s intervention into our recent experiences”.
He said, “Nigeria is faced with multifaceted challenges, that only through the merciful intervention from the God Almighty we can get through”.
Speaking on their conduct, Governor Inuwa urged them to remain law abiding and be good ambassadors of the state and Nigeria while in the holy land.
According to him, “While in the holy land, please be good ambassadors of yourselves; good ambassadors of your communities, your Local Government Areas, Gombe State and Nigeria, so we can all be proud of you”.
He called on them to stay free of anything that may mar their spiritual exercise, personal or state reputation, reminding them that in the holy land, the law can take its course on anybody found wanting of any mischievous or unwholesome act.
In his address, the Chairman of Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, His Royal Highness, the Emir of Dukku, Alhaji Haruna Abdulkadir Rasheed, appreciated the Governor for his tireless commitment to ensuring a hitch-free Hajj exercise.
While encouraging the state’s pilgrims to concentrate on their worship rather than spending, the chairman charged them to cooperate with the state, national and international Hajj officials for a successful exercise.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the Board Alhaji Sa’adu Hassan, commended the Governor for securing a conducive accomodation for the state’s pilgrims in the holy land.
He said initially, a 350 capacity plane was billed to airlift the state pilgrims, but that with the Governor’s commitments, a 550 capacity aircraft was secured to take the first batch of the pilgrims.
He said after screening of the shortlisted pilgrims, the airlift will be commencing in earnest on Wednesday at the Gombe International Airport, Lawanti, Gombe State.
