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Nigeria: Yobe Changes Mind On Sponsorship to Jerusalem
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Daily Trust (Abuja)
4 May 2008
Posted to the web 5 May 2008
Hamza Idris
Damaturu
Christian pilgrims in Yobe state who were hitherto promised sponsorship to Jerusalem were surprised to notice a reversal by governor Maman Ali as the Yobe State Pilgrims Commission has directed the pilgrims from the seventeen local government areas of the state to go and collect the advance payment of N50, 000 they made to the commission.
In a letter dated 25th April, 2008 with reference number YB/PC/CON/S/20/VOl. 111 addressed to the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) which was signed by Hamza Baba, the coordinator of the Christian pilgrimage in the state, said the intending pilgrims were asked to present evidences of payment in order to cash their money at the commission's headquarters in Damaturu.
The letter said: I am directed by his Excellency, the Executive Governor of Yobe State to refund the fifty thousand naira (N50, 000) to the 133 Christians who had paid their money for the year 2007 Christian pilgrimage.
Our correspondent reports that Governor Mamman Bello had last December told CAN officials that government will make balance payments for the pilgrims even though his concern was because people have been reported to be absconding in Jerusalem which the governor attributed to free of charge pilgrimage.
"I challenge all those who want to go to the pilgrimage to pay N50, 000 to the board and I would pay the balance for them", the governor had said when CAN officials paid him Christmas visit last December.
Inspired by government's promise gesture, about 130 Christians made prompt payments of the N50, 000; a development which many said surprised the governor and hence he made a u-turn.
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"The money needed to upset the ticket is much, probably that was why the governor reneged", one of the intending pilgrim said.
CAN chairman in Yobe State Reverend Father Godwin Teru said when he received the letter; he made several efforts to meet the governor without success. "I would not want to say anything now until I see the governor to hear why he is no longer interested in paying the money", he said.
The CAN vice chairman in Damaturu local government Reverend Ezikiel Adeyemi and Barrister Godwin Onoja who have all paid the required N50, 000 were also shocked that the governor changed his mind.
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