Akeredolu explains no sponsorship of pilgrimages stance

Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has declared that it was high time the state stopped sponsoring pilgrimages, saying some beneficiaries use the exercise for business purposes.

He said this while hosting the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, Reverend Uja Tor Uja, who paid a courtesy visit to him in Akure.

He explained that paucity of funds and the need for prudent management of scarce resources necessitated the stoppage of sponsoring intending pilgrims to Israel and Mecca.

The governor added that it has become a government policy not to sponsor pilgrims because most of the beneficiaries had misplaced the priority of the exercise.

He disclosed that the state Christian Welfare Board would soon be constituted to encourage Churches and wealthy individuals to sponsor intending pilgrims.

Akeredolu also lauded the commission for the initiative of taking Christians to Israel to learn their agricultural system. He, however, warned that mixing pilgrimage and business trips would amount to loss of focus on the part of those involved in such misplaced priorities.

President of the Ondo Christian Traditional Rulers and the Olowo of Owo, Oba Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi and the state chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend John Ayo Oladapo, among others were part of the visit.

Reverend Uja described Akeredolu as one of the few true Christian politicians holding leadership positions in the country.