Governor Bids Farewell to First Batch of Gombe State Contingent to Mecca

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State 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”, Governor Yahaya appealed.

 

Calling on the pilgrims to stay free of anything that may mar their spiritual exercise, personal or state reputation, Governor Yahaya reminded them that in the holy land, the law could take its course on anybody found wanting of any mischievous or unwholesome act.

 

While wishing the pilgrims a hitch-free Hajj, the governor encouraged them to intimate their guides about anything they do not understand.

 

He said his administration was committed to ensuring that the state pilgrims had the best Hajj experience right from Nigeria to the holy land.

 

Speaking on the current socio-economic realities in the country, Governor Yahaya charged the pilgrims to intensify prayers for God’s intervention.

 

“Intensify prayers for yourselves, Gombe State and Nigeria for God’s intervention in our recent experiences. Nigeria is faced with multifaceted challenges that only through the merciful intervention from the God Almighty we can get through” Governor Yahaya added.

 

He equally charged Hajj officials at all levels to discharge their duties with sincerity, diligence and patriotism for a seamless Hajj exercise.

 

The Chairman, of the Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, the Emir of Dukku, His Royal Highness Haruna Abdulkadir Rasheed, appreciated the governor for his tireless commitment to ensuring a hitch-free pilgrimage.

 

While encouraging the intending 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.

 

Also, the Executive Secretary of the board, 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 had now been secured to take the first batch of the pilgrims.

 

According to him, after screening the shortlisted pilgrims, the airlift is commencing in earnest on Wednesday.

 

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Da’awa Committee Sheikh Adamu Girbo (Retired), said all necessary Hajj training and teachings were fully conducted for the pilgrims, right from local governments to the 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 year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

 

Dominica Nwabufo