Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, has challenged Nigerian pilgrims to Israel to pray for a peaceful 2015 general elections.

He gave the charge Tuesday during the flagging off of Delta State pilgrims to Israel in Asaba, telling them to pray for sustained victory of the military over Boko Haram.

“Pray for peaceful co-existence, pray for peaceful elections, pray with your voters cards at one of the sites and God will give us peaceful elections,” the Governor said, adding that the country needs the prayers in the face of the challenges surrounding the general elections.

Similarly, he urged the pilgrims to pray for the military men and women who are at the battle fronts against Boko Haram for God to sustain and grant them permanent victory.

He also spoke on the spiritual essence of the pilgrimage to Israel, saying that “pilgrimage is usually very fulfilling” as it affords the pilgrims the opportunity to be closer to their creator.

The Governor said that the blessings that come to the state through pilgrimage cannot be quantified. He urged the pilgrims to pray for his administration to finish strong and finish well, conceding that the few months remaining for his administration could be challenging.

Uduaghan advised the pilgrims to be of good conduct. He scored the state high in terms of its indigenes not absconding during pilgrimages which he attributed to a rigorous exercise by the Pilgrims Board.

The Governor reiterated that the pilgrimage to Israel is not for tourism but a spiritual exercise. He requested the pilgrims to be conscious of the purpose of visiting Israel

“This year we have 1,170 pilgrims that are going for pilgrimage,” he disclosed and urged the pilgrims to make the best use of the time spiritually.

Earlier, the Commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties, Barr. Powell Ojogho, had thanked Governor Uduaghan for encouraging Deltans to go for the annual pilgrimage, stating that the pilgrims were aware of their mission to Israel.

Pastor Chika Akwebue, who spoke on behalf of the 199 pilgrims in the first batch of the pilgrims, also thanked Uduaghan administration for his interest in encouraging pilgrims to the holy land.

•Photo shows Governor Uduaghan speaking at a recent event.

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