By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi has asked Nigerian intending pilgrims to this year’s Hajj in the holyland of Mecca to pray for the spiritual rebirth of Nigeria citizens and the revival of the country’s ailing economy.
The governor made the call at the Hajj Camp, Olodo, Ibadan while addressing the 1,323 intending pilgrims from Oyo State to Mecca for this year’s hajj.
Governor Ajimobi declared that the pilgrims should make good use of their pilgrimage to the holyland to seek the face of God for positive change for the country’s depressing economy and spiritual rebirth in the land.
“You should use this period to seek the face of your creator for this country, Nigeria and Oyo State in particular. This nation is going through a difficult period in her history as a sovereign nation. It is, therefore, the duty of all of us to intercede through prayers and supplications to Allah to give us the positive change we are yearning for and spiritual rejuvenation,” he said.
The governor added “use this opportunity to serve the Lord with sincere repentance and seek forgiveness from your past sins, because only God is the forgiver of sins. Please consider yourself as ambassadors of Oyo State and refrain from acts that will not glorify Almighty Allah.”
Assuring the intending pilgrims of the Oyo state government readiness to work with other regulatory authorities to ensure that their journey to and fro Mecca was memorable and hitch-free, the governor charged the pilgrims to endure during the exercise and stay off sinful acts like drug trafficking, hard drug use that could tarnish the image of their families and the country, and advised them to be patient and cautious while at the holy land to forestall any untoward occurrence.
Speaking further, Governor Ajimobi while praying for the safe return of the pilgrims, lauded labour leaders in the state for calling off the seven-week strike which crippled government business and caused a lull in commercial activities across the state.
He then called on the people of the state to continue to support the state for the government programmes, saying, Oyo State would bounce back from its current financial challenges in the next six months.
Speaking, the Chairman of the state’s Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Taofeek Akewugberu, commended Governor Ajimobi for his support for the board towards a smooth hajj exercise despite the current economic meltdown.
