Pilgrims in Israel, Presbyterian Church pray for Buhari

The 130-member Borno Christians performing their pilgrimage in Israel have prayed for the quick recuperation of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is in London on treatment.

The prayers were made yesterday in Israel, after the end of a two-day prayers and fasting for Buhari’s speedy recovery.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Media (TV), Kwapchi Bata, in a statement yesterday said the pilgrims were implored to
dedicate themselves to the rituals of pilgrimage and specifically pray for the President.

The statement reads: “The prayers were a request by Governor Kashim Shettima in a farewell message to the pilgrims before they departed Nigeria through the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano in the
evening of May 18, 2017.

“The spiritual leader of the Borno delegation who is the CAN State Chairman, Bishop Mohammed Naga declared May 21 and 22 as days for the fast and fervent prayers for President Buhari’s health. Bishop Naga also led prayers for lasting peace to return to Borno.

The two days were selected based on the significance of the holy sites the pilgrims visited on those days which included the western gate in
Jerusalem known as “wailing wall,” considered sacred and a holy spot where prayer items are written on slips of paper and inserted on the wall cracks of a Church at Bethesda where Jesus performed his first miracle healing a man who was sick for 39 years.’’

Leader of the delegation, Ayuba Wakawa said Shettima has given the Christian community a sense of belonging in the state despite being in
the minority.

The state Coordinator of Christian Pilgrims, Genesis Gaji, said that the state government has tried in sponsoring pilgrims due to its importance, in spite of economic hardship.

In another development, the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria has expressed solidarity with the president over his health challenge and pledged to continue to pray to God for divine healing to enable him complete his mission as the President of Nigeria.

The Church has also called on all Nigerians to imbibe the biblical injunction to always pray for those in authority in order that “we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

In a communiqué issued at the end of its first bi-annual meeting held in Calabar, Cross River State, the General Assembly Executive Committee (GAEC) of the church commended the Federal Government on the successful negotiations that resulted in the release of another batch of 82 Chibok girls, who were among the 276 girls abducted in April 2014 by the Boko Haram Islamic terrorist group. The church urged the government not to rest on its oars until the remaining 113 abducted girls were released.

The communiqué, jointly signed by the Prelate and Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church, Most Rev. Nzie N. Eke and the Principal Clerk, Rev. Eseme William, also called on the government to effectively enforce the all-round surveillance mounted at all entry points to the country to forestall the outbreak of the Ebola virus disease.

The church, however, expressed disappointment with the ever-declining electric power supply in the country in spite of the billions of naira that have been sunk into power generation and supply projects within the past few years.