‘What transpired at 2011 Xtian pilgrimage’

The AtlasJET NCPC chartered Airline took off from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 3:30 am on 22nd January, 2012 to Tel Aviv en route Antalya, Turkey where it had a stopover. The plane arrived Ben Gurion International Airport Tele Aviv at 10:45am local time. Shortly afterwards, members of the committee departed for Hilton […]

The AtlasJET NCPC chartered Airline took off from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at about 3:30 am on 22nd January, 2012 to Tel Aviv en route Antalya, Turkey where it had a stopover. The plane arrived Ben Gurion International Airport Tele Aviv at 10:45am local time. Shortly afterwards, members of the committee departed for Hilton Hotel.

Part of the itinerary of the delegation was to attend the JP ceremony of one of the states contingent at the Shalom Jerusalem Hotel and a dinner to be hosted by one of the Ground Handlers – Tailor Made. This was on   day one of the visit. The activities for day two included a courtesy call on the Nigeria Ambassador to Israel, briefing session by the NCPC officials with Ground Handlers at the Embassy of Nigeria, visit to Jerusalem for prayers at the wailing wall, attend another JP ceremony at the Rimonium Shalom Hotel, Jerusalem by another Ground Handler – International Travel Congress (ITC) and a dinner at the Nigeria House.

With this in mind, Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Matthew Ifeanyi Nwagwu who was the leader of the Federal Government delegation led to Jerusalem, the traditional capital city of the Jewish people, about 35 minutes drive from the commercial city of Tel Aviv.

At the JP award ceremony for pilgrims in Jerusalem, Sen. Nwagwu solicited for peace in Nigeria.  According to him, Shallom means peace in Hebrew language. Thus, he said Nigerians came to seek peace in the Holy Land. He commended the Pilgrims whom he said had made Nigeria proud by conducting themselves well. His words “with this kind of candour and spirit, your lives will be different”.

Sen. Nwagwu could not hide his feelings when he commended the efforts of the NCPC in organizing a successful pilgrimage for 2011. He promised to do everything possible to advance the cause of Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary of the commission, Mr. John Kennedy Opara stated that the “essence of pilgrimage is for spiritual renewal”. He advised the pilgrims to be conscious of what they would be remembered for when they got home. He stressed that the enemies of Nigeria were defenseless in the face of the prayers of Christians. He further stated. “I believe that each and every one of you will go back blessed.”

President of Talor Made, Israel, Mrs. Josephine Zinder, the organizer of the JP award ceremony, explained that Israel loved Nigeria so well because Nigerians know the secret. She stressed that Israel was solidly behind Nigeria in this time of trials.

The delegation also paid a courtesy call on the Nigerian Ambassador to Israel H.E. Obasa on his No. 34 Gordon Street, Tel Aviv. The envoy who was very delighted to receive his compatriots at the embassy, said the chancery house was built in 1992 and that the Embassy was privileged to have its own Nigeria House (the Ambassador’s residence) on No. 22 Hasadot Fashmayao, Tel Aviv.  Amb. Obasa further informed the delegation that the Nigeria Mission in Israel in conjunction with the NCPC handles pilgrimage activities. In the words of the Ambassador. “I place a high premium on the delegation’s visit”.

He described diplomacy, which he said cannot be quantified, as a very important tool in international relations which binds countries together. He canvassed for enough funding of foreign missions and solicited the Senators to help in appropriating more funds for the embassy.

The Ambassador further stressed “the need for Nigerians to be conscious of the image of the country and put our house in order. If we are good at home, many nations will respect us.” Consequently, he stressed the need to pray for Nigeria at the various holy sites in Israel.

Senator Nwagwu who was Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Switzerland promised to fast track the  Bilateral Air Service Agreement {BASA] with Israel which has been pending. He promised to discuss with relevant agencies and committees to make it possible.  He also welcomed the NCPC’s plans to introduce two pilgrimages in a year and commended the NCPC management for their visionary leadership in the administration of pilgrimage.

The delegation  while in the Holy land , also visited the Wailing Wall, also known as the Western wall which is the last remnant of the Temple where the Jews and all people from different walks of life converge to pray. It is believed that every prayer offered at the Wailing Wall is potent. Little wonder it is a must visit by every pilgrim in the Holy Land.

Members of the delegation were hosted to a dinner by the Nigerian Ambassador in his residence. They were lavishly “spoilt”  with  Nigerian cuisines of  different culinary types in the true spirit of our hospitality and patriotism.

The delegation which also met with Ground Handlers at the Nigeria Embassy on their operational challenges during the 2011 pilgrimage, later departed Israel for Nigeria after a well fulfilled assignment, thus bringing their offshore oversight function on the 2011 Christian pilgrimage to an end.

The Holy Christian pilgrimage to Israel is an injunction, as it is evidently spelt out in Zechariah Chapter 8 Verse 22 that “ many people and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the Lord.” Also, in Psalm Chapter 122 Verse 2 of the Holy Bible, states that “Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.”

This, of course, explains why the Executive Secretary of the commission  often affirms that pilgrimage is a journey of a life time and it is meant for Christians who are “spiritually rich, but materially poor.”

Pilgrimage is not tourism and a jamboree rather; it is a spiritual journey for renewal of one’s faith in God and moral rebirth.

My experience in Israel cannot by any means be forgotten in a hurry. It does not matter how often one has been to Israel on pilgrimage; every encounter in the Holy Land is fresh and new, especially if the intention is for prayers.

Pilgrims stay for 11 days and ten nights in Israel. Within this period, they are expected to visit at least ten holy sites of spiritual importance within and outside Israel.

One striking thing about this experience is the fact that an average Israeli national reckons and identifies with Nigerians thus shows concern with what is happening in the country. Whether at the Jaffa market in Jerusalem, Wailing Wall also in Jerusalem, Cana in Nazareth and Karmel market in Tel Aviv, etc they empathized with Nigeria and prayed that the country would soon overcome its current security challenges.

The 2011 Christian Pilgrimage which commenced on November 5, 2011 came to a successful denouement with the arrival of the last batch of pilgrims from the Holy land on February 1, 2012. In all ramifications, the exercise was a hitch free one.

It is against this background therefore, that the Commission felt it was apposite to thank God  profusely by rolling out its drums on Sunday, February 13, 2012 at the All Saints Anglican Church, Wuse Abuja for a thanksgiving service to God for a successful pilgrimage.

The Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission was set up in 2007 by an Act of the National Assembly to coordinate Christian pilgrimage to Israel and other holy sites in the world. The commission since its establishment, has covered a lot of mileage in terms of organization and packaging. The Executive Secretary, Mr. Opara, has made it possible that Christians now have the opportunity of visiting Rome and Greece when on pilgrimage.

Ogugua is with the Media Unit of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Abuja.