Borno CAN Lauds Shettima For Sponsoring 69 Clerics, Others To Jerusalem

The Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN) Borno state chapter has praised Governor Kashim Shettima for sponsoring 69 Pastors and 251other Christian Pilgrims for pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

The Leader of the delegation, Hon. Aimu Foni and his team who paid a courtesy call on Governor Kashim Shettima at the Government House Maiduguri said “we appreciate the governor for sponsoring 320 Christian men and women to the Holy Land of Israel to perform pilgrimage, despite insurgency and caring for thousands of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.”

The CAN said the pilgrims under the leadership of Aimu Foni with Reverend Titus Pona and Rev. Enoch Atiyaye, State CAN Chairman and secretary as spiritual leaders and all government delegations behaved maturely.

Hon. Foni said the delegation consist of 67 pastors and evangelists, adding that Hon. Ayuba Wakawa, a member representing Hawul state constituency led the first Batch of 50 pilgrims who were airlifted immediately after the flag-off on Saturday 25th July 2015 from Abuja.

The Pilgrims informed the Governor that they have prayed for the restoration of peace in Borno and beyond adding that the pilgrims used the opportunity while in the Holy Land to pray for IDPs to soon go back to all liberated communities.

They also prayed for God to grant wisdom and good health to President Muhammadu Buhari and to Heads of all tiers of government in Nigeria among other things.

Responding, Governor Kashim Shettima said Borno state belongs to all irrespective of religious differences, as according to him, everybody who pays tax in Borno should enjoy the resources of the state provided you are a Nigerian and resides in Borno.

He said politicians should stop heating up the polity by showing discrimination in order to divide the people for their selfish interest and assured CAN that Borno state government will continue to support the Christian community in the state.