Saraki to sponsor Christian, Muslim pilgrimages
- Senate president Bukola Saraki has set up a committee to coordinate his sponsorship of Christian and Muslim pilgrimages
- Saraki said he had taken up the task as the government was no longer able to handle the responsibility of sponsoring Muslims and Christians on pilgrimages
- The Kwara state CAN secretary who is a member of the committee, described the initiative as unprecedented
A 10-man committee on Muslim and Christian pilgrimages has been inaugurated by Senate president Bukola Saraki, Tribune reports.
The committee is charged with coordinating sponsorship of pilgrimages by the Senate president, and will be headed by a former Grand Khadi of Kwara state, Justice Idris Haroon. It also has as its member, the secretary of the state’s chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Reverend Cornelius Fawenu.
Legit.ng gathers that while making remarks during the committee’s inauguration, the Senate president said the government could no longer handle the responsibility of sponsoring Muslims and Christians on pilgrimages; hence, he had decided to take up the challenge.
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He said: “Any good leader must, at all times, listen to the yearnings of his people. We have our Muslim and Christian brothers desirous of observing the pilgrimages, but could not afford the cost. We will help such people with a forum through which they can realise their dreams.
“We may not be able to do it like the government which used to sponsor about 400 when I was governor of Kwara state, but we will start with 100. The coming Umrah (lesser hajj) shall be the starting point."
In his response, Justice Haroon thanked Saraki for what he had been able to achieve in Kwara and the entire country. He also expressed thanks to Allah for preserving the life of the Senate president.
Praising Saraki for the initiative, the chairman noted: “This which you have initiated as a true Muslim, is the first of its kind in this state and Nigeria.”
He gave the assurance that the members of the committee will work assiduously to meet the aspirations of the people. “We will do our job with fear of God and ensure that only pious people are selected for the exercise," he said.
Rev Fawenu, the CAN secretary, described the initiative as unprecedented.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Senate president, Bukola Saraki, met with a group of northern leaders, under the auspices of the Northern Leaders and Stakeholders’ Assembly on Wednesday, May 9, in Abuja, behind closed doors.
The elders discussed the position of northerners in the country’s politics; noting that Nigerians were losing faith in their ability to manage the country.
Saraki, on his part, urged the elders to join hands to find a solution to the killings in the country.
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Source: Legit.ng
