Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe
#pilgrimsmedia
Executive Secretary of Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission, NCPC, Rev Yabuku Pam, has said that Delta State under Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, can truly be described as a special state, considering the level of development and partnership with the Church of God.
Pam made the assertion on Tuesday September 7, 2021 while conducting prayers session organised by NCPC at Mount Nebo in the holy land of Jordan, saying that Okowa knows the benefit of partnering with God, which was why he went extra miles to ensure that the 2020 batch of pilgrims made it to Jordan, despite daunting challenges.
He urged Deltans to continue to support Okowa administration as the search for a suitable person to occupy the office of governor begins, adding that Deltans should avoid the mistake of electing a.governor that would destroy the good governance and spiritual progress recorded since 2015, and still counting.
Pam, said Mount Nebo, is significant in multifaceted ways; especially that it was the point where Moses ended his ministry, haven journeyed with God’s people from Egypt, noting that at the same time, Joshua’s ministry started in Mount Nebo, after the demise of Moses, who was buried by the Angels around the Mountain area.
Pam posited that Nigeria should emulate the Kingdom of Jordan, where Moslems and Christians live together peacefully, noting that religious extremism will further divide us rather than Unite Nigerians, and urged those sponsoring religious and ethnic crisis to abstain from such divisive projects.
“We are here today because the governor of Delta State, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, not only kept his promise to allocate funds but went extra mile to ensure that no stone was left unturned for this trip to succeed.
“He had sleepless nights with members of his exco to honour God, and I have no doubts in my mind that God will continue to honour Okowa, and take him to greater heights in politics and service to country.
“I want to appeal to other governors who are Christians to emulate Okowa’s inestimable passion for God, and his commitments in partnering with the Churches, in and out of season.
“In 2020, Delta sponsored the highest number of pilgrims, which is this batch, about 315 pilgrims, where some States sponsored below 100 pilgrims.
“In my view, Delta is a special state under governor Okowa, when it comes to investments in the upliftment of the spiritual status of her citizens. Pilgrimage is essentially a special spiritual revival mission, and a special encounter with God, as can be seen here in Mount Nebo, today.
“Christians and Moslems have been living together peacefully for centuries in Jordan, and it is very important that we do away with religious and ethnic extremism in Nigeria, and to sustain the ideals of our nation’s founding fathers by focusing on the things that unite us, not those that divide us,” Pam said.
In his brief sermon at Mount Nebo, chairman of Delta State Pilgrims Board, Archbishop Cyril Odutemu, urged pilgrims and Christians in general to emulate the spiritual sacrifices made by Moses, by serving God diligently at all times.
He said praise and thanksgiving moves God to intervene in our situations, and appealed to Pilgrims to count themselves lucky to step on the same.ground which Moses stepped on during his ministry, and journey with God’s people from Egypt.
Odutemu, enjoined pilgrims to pray fervently and continually for the prosperity and peace in Delta and Nigeria, as well as for the wellbeing and elevation of the state governor, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, to the mountain top of his political career, adding that, the governor has the capacity to solve the problems bedevilling our nation, if given the opportunity to do so.
“We must continue to pray for the state and governor Okowa, for him to finish strong and he shall surely finish strong. And we must also pray and support him to source for another governor who will partner with God, for the greatness of our state, come 2023.
“We should learn from mistakes of the past, and to do the right thing by electing a man after God’s heart, and we pray that God should direct Okowa to have encounter with his divine successor before party primaries next year.
“Okowa has capacity to solve problems, and we know that he is due for higher office where he will be able to solve complex issues confronting Nigeria. For this to happen, pilgrims and Christians in Delta should at all times remember him in prayers.
“Mount Nebo, here we come, we shall not go back to Nigeria the same condition we were when we arrived this mountain.
“Upon this mountain I degree that peace return to Nigeria. Upon this mountain, I pray for the prosperity of all Deltans and greatness of Delta State and Nigeria.
“Upon this mountain, our dreams and individual ambitions shall not be cut short. We have since entered the promise land since the day Christ atoned for your sins, the day we became born again, but our full potentials, ambitions and fulfilment of individual destiny shall not be cut short.
“Upon this mountain, I pray that as God have been using governor Okowa, to uplift His name in Delta, so also shall God, and our Lord Jesus Christ take Okowa and his family to higher heights in Jesus Name,” Odutemu prayed.
In his goodwill message, Nigerian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Jordan, Farouk Malami Yabo urged pilgrims to pray for the President, Mohammadu Buhari, leaders and country, Nigeria.
He extolled the enviable virtues of NCPC Executive Secretary, Rev Yabuku Pam, saying that the commission lived up to expectations through flawless operations and good working relationship with Nigeria Diplomatic community in Jordan.
“Here in Jordan, Moslems and Christians live together peacefully. We must collectively as citizens pray for the stability of security and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria. I encourage pilgrims to also pray in this direction,” Yabo said.
Delta pilgrims felicitated with the Obi of Owa, His Royal Majesty, Dr Emmanuel Efeizomor II, on the occasion of his 62nd year on the royal throne.
Leader of Delta Pilgrims to the holy land of Jordan, Archbishop Cyril Odutemu, conducted special prayers for the Owa Monarch, in Mount Nebo. He is also the incumbent Chairman of Delta State Council of Traditional Rulers.
Odutemu, described King Efeizomor, as a man after God’s heart, saying that it takes the divine grace of God, to rule over a kingdom for 62 years and still counting.
He prayed for Obi Efeizomor’s good health, prosperity and many more years on the royal throne of Owa Kingdom.