By Adedayo Adeleye
The Ekiti State Government has charged Intending pilgrims from the state to Israel to be good ambassadors and distinguish themselves as special people while in the Holy land.
The Deputy Governor, Okinlua Monisade Afuye made the admonition at a special farewell service held at the Government House Chapel in Ado for the Ekiti contingent to this year’s holy pilgrimage.
The Deputy Governor while addressing the intending pilgrims reminded them to pray for Nigeria and Ekiti State in particular as the country and state need God’s divine intervention that will bring about the desired accelerated socio-economic transformation.
Okinlua Afuye appealed to the intending pilgrims to steer clear of any act that could tarnish the image of the State and bring the Christian religion to ridicule.
She enjoined them not to see their journey as a period for merriment but to see the pilgrimage as a life time opportunity.
The Deputy Governor added that the present administration has remained at the vanguard of peaceful co-existence among various religions in the State hence the need for the intending pilgrims to pray for the state government.
Earlier in his sermon the CAN Chairman in Ekiti State Reverend Emmanuel Aribasoye reminded the intending pilgrims that God, the State and their family expect a positive change of behavior from them after the pilgrimage.
In their addresses, the Government House Chaplain Pastor Segun Awolumate and the Executive Secretary State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board congratulated the intending pilgrims for being among the few lucky Ekiti contingents to the State of Israel.
They urged them not to involve themselves in any frivolities while in Israel but to use the opportunity to rededicate and consecrate themselves to God and pray for their families and friends.
The Ekiti Contingents had since departed from the state to the holy land of Israel.
