The Plateau Sate governor, Chief Joshua Dariye, has declared that his administration is determined to make the state the centre and pillar of Christianity in Nigeria. He therefore said those persecuting the state for its predominantly Christian faith are of bound to fail.
Governor Dariye was speaking to the state's 500 pilgrims to Jerusalem at St. Luke's Cathedral Church over the weekend. He said the state government will continue to play a role in shaping the religious and moral lives of its citizens. He tasked the pilgrims to be worth ambassadors of the country by conducting themselves responsibly while in the holy land.
Stating that the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem is not for mere tourism, Dariye noted that it is for spiritual upliftment. "We expect changes in your lives as you go through this experience and I can assure you that even if the Federal Government scraps Hajj we will not scrap our faith," he said.
The governor charged the pilgrims to pray for the nation's political leaders, for national unity and for the needy.
Earlier, the Anglican Bishop of Jos Diocese, Dr. Benjamin Kwashi urged the pilgrims to emulate Jesus Christ in their relationship with fellow human beings, emphasising that the only way to achieve this is "by allowing the pilgrimage to pass through them."
On his part, Secretary of the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mr. Daniel Diediye thanked Governor Dariye for funding their pilgrimage.