By Daniel Tyokua
No fewer than 170 pilgrims from the Federal Capital Territory will on Saturday depart for Jordan to perform the 2021 Christians holy pilgrimage.
The Director, FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Dabara Audu Vingo disclosed this during the pre- departure activities on Thursday.
He said the first departure of intending pilgrims from the FCT to Jordan were three hundred and eighty on the list, but many wouldn’t make it because of reasons they gave, only one hundred and seventy will make the first batch.
Vingo said, “There would be one hundred and seventy (170) that will depart on Saturday, but they were three hundred and eighty (380) on the list. Many dropped for different reasons, ranging from complaints about exams, non release by office to other pressing activities within the period.
“They are deferring it to the next pilgrimage programme that will be by November/December”.
He warned those with the tendencies to disgrace Nigeria through abscondment to stay away from participating in the pilgrimage, as measures are in place to fish them out.
“We are checking for those with the tendencies to disgrace FCT and Nigeria through abscondment, because we have our ways to detect those having the tendencies of not wanting to come back to Nigeria.
“So no matter what, even if you are given the visa, or your name is on the visa list, and we discovered that you have the tendencies to abscond, we will drop you, and will not allow you to travel with us, that is the essence of this pre-departure programme, which we began today (yesterday), and we are ending it at the Airport on Saturday.
However, the Chairman, FCT Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Dr. Samson Jonah, said Pilgrimage is not just spiritual exercise but a moment when Christians deepen their relationship with God.
He described 2021 pilgrimage as unique, which according to him, “we have had a fair share of challenges especially the COVID-19 that disrupted the programme last year.We never thought that we will embark on this pilgrimage, but God almighty has intervened. Pilgrimage is not just spiritual exercise, but it’s a moment when we deepen our relationship with God”
