By Tom Garba, Yola
Governor Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow has called on the National Christian Pilgrims Commission to increase the number of seats it allocates to Christians in the state to observe this year’s pilgrimage.
The governor, who made the call when Executive Secretary of the commission, Mr. John Kennedy Okpara, paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Yola, explained that he appreciated the support Christians in the state gave him to be elected into office.
Bindow stressed his respect for religious leaders and assured that would be fair to all people irrespective of their religious affiliation.
The governor, who presented a gift to Opara, stressed that he was doing everything possible to meet the needs of the Adamawa people.
Okpara extolled the governor for his humility, adding that God made it possible for him to lead as governor of the state.
He commended Bindow for starting off some road projects in the state and called for more financial support to the people for pilgrimage purposes.
Opara said that four Christian pilgrimages are observed yearly and urged the state to consider training Adamawa youths in agriculture in Israel to provide job opportunity to them and reduce their dependency on government.
Describing Israel as leading in agricultural skills centre in the world, the executive secretary pointed out that the commission was working with the Nigeria Lottery Commission in order to make funds available to intending pilgrims.
Opara, who presented the governor with the approved package of pilgrimage for the year, was accompanied by North East Coordinator of Christian Pilgrimage Arch Bishop Nemuel Baba and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) executives, among others.
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