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| Gov Lalong addressing intending pilgrims |
LALONG BIDS MUSLIM PILGRIMS FAREWELL,
URGES THEM TO BRING SPIRITUAL BENEFIT
By Lovins Yakubu
August 13, 2018
Governor Simon
Bako Lalong this afternoon bided farewell to intending muslim pilgrims to holy
land today at the Rwang Pam stadium Jos. The governor charged them to be worthy
ambassadors of Plateau state and bring great spiritual benefit.
Lalong expressed
his delight to address intending pilgrims for this year’s Holy Pilgrimage to
Mecca, the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia saying that the farewell ceremony
confirmed the completion of preparation for the successful airlift of intending
pilgrims to the Holy land for the performance of the 2018 Hajj exercise.
“Let me
first and foremost use this medium to thank all the peace loving citizens of
the Muslim Ummah in the State, and particularly the Council of Ulamas for your
prayer for the peace and progress of our dear State. I wish to say boldly that
it is the place of these prayers and cooperation with Government that have
sustained us in the State.
“I am well
informed that a total number of 815 intending pilgrims have completed the
necessary requirements and will be making the State contingent to the Holy land
this year. This I have been briefed is comprised of 300 State sponsored, 150
Local Government and 365 self-sponsored pilgrims.
“You are
aware that in 2017, the Plateau State Government had to sponsor 616 intending
pilgrims including 387 deferrees as backlog of Pilgrims inherited from the last
administration, who were fully paid up intending Pilgrims and could not be
Airlifted to the Holy Land not on account of any fault of theirs.” He said
The Governor
further expresses happiness noting that notwithstanding the dwindling economic
fortune and competing demand of Governments lean resources, Government has been
able to clear the backlog and resume sponsorship which was suspended for two
(2) years to allow for necessary adjustment. The development Lalong said was a
statement of purpose concerning the Rescue Administration’s resolve to deal
justly with all citizens in the State.
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| Intending Pilgims |
According to the Governor, “We understand that
working within our realistic financial inflows will compel necessary adjustment
on matters relating to Government Sponsorship for the performance Holy
Pilgrimages, if Government is to respond to the increasing developmental needs
of the State.
“This is not
to say that pilgrimages are not important but rather, it is to highlight the
necessity for proper planning by citizens to save and prepare for this
spiritual exercise as a personal obligation demanded by faith.
We have
remained focused in ensuring that we continue to provide all the opportunity
for the performance with ease, of the Holy pilgrimage as one of the religious
Pillars of Islam. We shall continue to support this by ensuring that all
facilities and necessary institutional support that will guarantee the
continuous performance of this exercise for our citizens is ensured.
“I will not
fail to commend those who have made efforts to sponsor themselves for this year
and past pilgrimages. While Government would have wished that sponsorship
improves, it will sincerely not be possible because of the competing demands
for the very limited resources at the hands of Government and for this, I wish
to urge all those who will wish to be part of the pilgrimage to commence
strategic planning towards same.
“The Rescue
Government is hopeful that our dwindling fortunes will in the no distant future
improve, as we sustain our prayers and intensify the exploitation of our
revenue yielding potentials in all critical sectors of the economy, so that
resources will abound in the hands of citizens for future self sponsorship.
"Let me
assure our Muslim brothers and sisters that Government is still committed to
carrying out the renovation on the already acquired property with a wide
expanse of land in the Rikkos New Layout, to serve as the Moslem Pilgrims
Welfare Board Permanent Office as well as a Transit Camp for our intending
Moslem Pilgrims.”
He further appreciated
the Moslem Pilgrims Board for the effective way the pilgrimage exercise had been
managed since his assumption of Office; this according to him has ensured that
the initial hiccup government experienced in the first and second year was
steadily improved upon
“The case of
defections and abscondment of Pilgrims should therefore not be heard of amongst
our State contingents, because of the enviable records we have now attained in
the conduct of this exercise and we must make every effort to maintain.
“I further
wish to charge the 2018 intending pilgrims to see themselves as Ambassadors of
our dear State and Country, whose spiritual depth of conviction must be
reflected in the pious conduct of the exercise, all through the performance of
the pilgrimage in the Holy land.
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“I enjoin
you to be fervent in your prayers for our Nation, the President,
MuhammaduBuhari (GCFR), and for our dear State Plateau. Ensure you also sustain
your prayers for lasting peace and security around the Grand Kaaba for Allah
(SWT) to expose all agents of destabilization in our country and the State in
particular.
“I can
assure you that as you pray and return fully prepared after the pilgrimage, to
give good expression to your spiritual rejuvenation, in working for peace and
the progress of our Country, we will experience better days. Finally, I urge you to ensure you observe
all the rules and regulations put in place to make this years pilgrimage
hitch-free, while also dutifully abiding by the laws of the Royal Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia.” Said Lalong
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