Use Pilgrimage For Spirituality and Capacity Building Of Citizens – Clergy Charges Taraba Gov
By Lynn Adda
The Bishop of the Crown of Life Bible Church, popularly known as House of David, Rev Innocent Rubiruka Solomon has advised the Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas to revisit the pilgrimage policies to make it both spiritual being and build the capacity of the citizens to promote development goals and economic progress of the state.
Bishop Innocent Rubiruka Solomon
The Bishop who gave the advise in a Press Release in Jalingo, the state capital, said Governor Agbu Kefas must be commended for spiritual and religious sensitivity and sponsorship of Christian and Muslim pilgrimage to Israel and Mecca in the 2024 pilgrimage season.
“However, His Excellency is encouraged to revisit policies guiding the purposes of pilgrimage to play relevant and strategic roles and impact in his overall vision for economic development and strides for the state and there are opportunities in Israel and Saudi Arabia for replication”.
Gov Kefas
He observed that Taraba State is grabbling with huge economic challenges and infrastructural deficits coupled with unemployment gabs that have left a catastrophic number of the teaming youths and graduates from our Institutions unemployed and roaming the streets.
“It is noteworthy and commendable for the government of Taraba State under the able leadership of Dr Agbu Kefas to commit resources for religious activities especially of sponsoring her citizens to perform pilgrimage to Mecca and Israel and other holy sites around the world.
“This is most commendable especially in the light of very tight economic challenges that government is faced with. The management of our lean and hard earned resources of the state in these days of huge economic adversity must be utilized in such a way as to gain maximum advantage in furtherance of development and making progress.
According to Bishop Solomon, the consequences of our poverty level and the dare economic realities in society today require that the government revisit its approach to pilgrimage activities for the required outcome to be achieved both in terms of spirituality and strategic economic development goals.
“The Israeli economy is considered strong, particularly due to its thriving high-tech sector, robust R&D capabilities, and a highly educated workforce, allowing it to achieve consistent growth and a high standard of living despite geopolitical challenges with no oil and gas and other natural endowments; As of 2024, the IMF estimated Israel has the 26th largest economy in the world by nominal GDP, and one of the biggest economies in the Middle East. 3.1% (2022 est.)
“This can be leveraged upon through pilgrimage.
“Also Saudi Arabia has maintained a very strong culture of peace in the midst of multi -cultural engagements in many years and over centuries of engagement with different nations of the earth coming for holy pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. Saudi Arabia has earned for itself a name of one of the most peaceful nations of the world. These virtues of development that have become a culture in both Mecca and Israel should become a study for Pilgrims in order to replicate same in our societies.
The Clergymen stressed that the concept of pilgrimage in this contemporary times must therefore consider not only spiritual purposes but for learning, education and building of capacity for development in order to ensure sustainability.
