2023 Hajj: Be good Ambassadors, pray for Gombe, Nigeria – Gov Yahaya tells intending Pilgrims
…..As he Bids farewell to first batch of state’s contingent to holy land
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has charged the state’s intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia to remain law abiding and good ambassadors of the state and Nigeria while in the holy land.
The governor gave the charge on Tuesday during a farewell address to the state’s intending pilgrims at the Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board office.
“While in the holy land, please be good ambassadors of yourselves; good ambassadors of your communities, your local government areas, Gombe State and Nigeria, so we can all be proud of you”, he appealed.
Calling on the pilgrims to stay free of anything that may mar their spiritual exercise, personal or state’s reputation, Governor Inuwa reminded them that in the holy land, law can take its course on anybody found wanting of any mischievous or unwholesome act.
While wishing the pilgrims a hitch-free Hajj exercise, the governor encouraged them to intimate their guides on anything they do not understand.
He said his administration is on its feets to ensure the state pilgrims had best Hajj experience right from Nigeria to the holy land.
Speaking on the current socio-economic realities in the country, Governor Inuwa Yahaya charged the pilgrims to intensify prayers for God’s intervention.
“Intensify prayers for yourselves, Gombe State and Nigeria for God’s intervention into our recent experiences. Nigeria is faced with multifaceted challenges, that only through the merciful intervention from the God Almighty we can get through,” he added.
The governor equally charged Hajj officials at all levels to discharge their duties with sincerity, diligence and patriotism for a seemless Hajj exercise.
In his address, the Chairman Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, His Royal Highness Haruna Abdulkadir Rasheed, the Emir of Dukku, appreciated the governor for his tireless commitments to ensuring a hitch free Hajj exercise.
While encouraging the state’s pilgrims to concentrate on their worship rather than spending, the chairman charged them to cooperate with the state, national and international Hajj officials for a successful exercise.
In his address of welcome, the Executive Secretary of the board Alhaji Sa’adu Hassan, commended the governor for securing a conducive accommodation for the state’s pilgrims in the holy land.
He said initially a 350-capacity plane was billed to airlift the state pilgrims, but with the governor’s commitments, a 550 capacity aircraft is secured to take the first batch of the pilgrims.
He said after screening of the shortlisted pilgrims, the airlift is commencing in earnest on Wednesday.
Also speaking, the Chairman Da’awa Committee Sheikh Adamu Girbo (Retired), said all necessary Hajj trainings and teachings were fully conducted for the pilgrims, right from local governments to state level.
He advised them to imbibe the spirit of modest spending while in the holy land.
Earlier before the farewell, Sheikh Mukhtari Musa Ɗanbayo took the pilgrims through the rudiments, do’s and don’ts of the spiritual exercise to make it a success.
Gombe State has 2557 intending pilgrims to perform this years Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
Ismaila Uba Misilli
Directorate of Press Affairs,
Government House
Gombe
