By Ebriku John Friday
The Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev Yakubu Pam has said that the Commission,s 2020 maiden Pilgrimage exercise to Jordan was quite successful.
He disclosed this on Friday at the Plateau State secretariat of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN in Jos during a courtesy visit to the CAN leadership.
In a statement by the Commission’s Head, Media and Public Relations, Mr Celestine Toruka, The NCPC boss affirmed that the Commission’s maiden Pilgrimage to Jordan recorded zero abscondment for the first time in the history of the Commission..
He added that aside zero abscondment, the Commission also recorded zero mortality and zero morbidity.
Rev Pam explained that the option of travelling to Jordan was borne out of the fact that Israel was yet to open its borders to international travels but was satisfied with the Pilgrimage exercise in Jordan having discovered that Jordan is in the heart of the Holy Land with many Biblical Holy Sites.
He hinted that the Commission would soon embark on advocacy visit to strategic stakeholders where its Pilgrimage activities and programmes would be brought to the front burner.
Rev Pam reiterated that he was a product of CAN. His words,” I am a product of CAN, I am proud to belong to CAN”.
He stressed that CAN had been a voice of the voiceless and as such he is proud to belong to the body .
The NCPC boss who was formerly the CAN chairman in Plateau State and currently the Chairman of CAN, 19 Northern states, including FCT thanked the leadership of CAN Plateau State for their maturity. According to him,” the CAN chairman has been very focused; a lover of peace who believes in the development of Plateau State”. He described his choice as the Chairman of CAN Plateau State as divine.
He appreciated the leadership of the church in Plateau State for the role they played in resolving the recent crisis that engulfed Jos city .
The NCPC helmsman urged the CAN leadership to continue to help in preaching peace. He further tasked them to call on their members to shun violence, rather they should go out and vote the right candidates during the October 9 Local Government polls in the state .
He further charged the youths to desist from any form of violence during the election. His words,” let there be no shading of blood, we should avoid anything that will bring crisis to Jos “.
In his remark, the Chairman of CAN Plateau State, Rev Fr . Polycarp Lubo, said they were excited to receive the NCPC boss at the CAN secretariat. According to him,” we are proud of the name Rev Pam which has become a household name in Nigeria”
He reaffirmed that the visit of the NCPC boss to CAN was timely.
Concerning the Local Government polls in Plateau State, Rev Fr Lubo reiterated that nobody,s life is worth losing, stressing
that CAN should always remain apolitical and would never be partisan, but should only proffer advice to the key players in politics.
He promised to admonish Christians not to be agents of violence but should go out and cast their votes peacefully.
Rev Fr Lubo assured the NCPC boss of their prayers at all times , he prayed that he would continue to grow from strength to strength.
The CAN chairman used the medium to call on Nigerians to be praying for peace in the country.
