Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has said he did not have any political intention in sponsoring the 1,200 Christian and Muslim pilgrims, who visited Jerusalem, Jordan, Mecca and Medina this year on pilgrimage. He said he was rather interested in the spiritual uplift of the beneficiaries, coupled with moral benefits and their relationship with God.
The governor spoke at Eze Imo Palace in Mbari, Owerri in his remarks during the interdenominational thanksgiving service organised by the pilgrims to appreciate him for the opportunity given to them to visit holy land at no cost to them.
He had paid for the airlift, feeding, accommodation and other expenses of 1,000 Christian pilgrims to Jordan and Jerusalem, as well as for 200 Muslims, who went to Mecca and Medina from Imo State.
The service turned out to be a moment of emotional outpour, as Uzodimma was treated with tales of how, through the exercise and his magnanimity, many beneficiaries, Christian and Muslim pilgrims, had the opportunity of either travelling by air for the first time in their lives as well as travelling outside the shores of Nigeria, also for the first time.
The pilgrims, most of who clamoured to see the sponsor, were excited to behold the governor in their midst and also happy over the opportunity to lavish prayers on him as the governorship election draws closer.
Although they reminded Uzodimma that they prayed for him, his family, his government, Imo State, among others at the holy land, the pilgrims also told him that the payback time, which is November 11, has come.
They were therefore happy to enter into a prayer of agreement, after which they endorsed the governor for re-election and resolved to vote massively for him.
The service was organised by the Imo State Christian Pilgrims Welfare.
Appreciating their prayers, Uzodimma told the congregation that he was not only humbled by their experience, but also that it gave him satisfaction having a better relationship with his creator. He urged them to do the same.
He said pilgrimage means a lot to the Christian and Muslim faiths, and appealed to Imo people to “first live together as a people irrespective of religious differences because all of us are of one God.”
Deputy Governor Placid Njoku thanked the governor for his Godly dispositions that made it possible for him to sponsor people from the state to the holy land.
The Chairman, Imo State Pilgrim Welfare Board, Rev Fr. Dr. Gilbert Alaribe, thanked the governor and God Almighty for a seamless exercise and journey mercies.
The Chairman, Imo State Muslim Council, Baba Sule, expressed gratitude to the governor for the gesture, saying it was the first time Imo State Government sponsored Muslims to the holy land.
Sule, the Sarikin Hausawa Imo State, prayed God to continue to “put the governor on the front seat and always put him above all his enemies.”
Other speakers included the Chief Judge of Imo State, Justice Theresa Chikeka; the Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Imo State, Dr. Macdonald Ebere and HRH Eze Mathew Nwokoma.
Bishop Henry Mbamaonyeukwu and Bishop Akanabu, representing the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, CCN, ECWA an Anglican Church said the governor had sown bountifully, hence he would reap bountifully.
