The Abia State SSG, Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa, Rev Dr. Zion Solomon Ibenye, NCPC Fed. Commissioner South-East, Gov. T A Orji, Mr. John Kennedy Opara, NCPC Boss, Mr. Gad Onyeanu SA to the Exe. Sec. of NCPC, Mr. Frank Chukwura NCPC Zonmal Coordinator South- East and Mr. Sydney Moneke Ex-officio member representing Foreign Affairs on NCPC Board during the sensitization visit of NCPC to Abia State recently.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christain Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Mr. John Kennedy Opara has allotted 500 seats to Abia State for the 2013 Christain Pilgrimage exercise. He disclosed this recently at Umuahia while on a sensitization visit to Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore A. Orji at Government House, Umuahia.
The NCPC boss according to a release signed by the organization media unit commended the Governor for the support and encouragement given to Christians in the State, especially his sponsorship of about 750 pilgrims to Israel in the past two years. He stated that the Governor was the first in the South East to have sponsored that number of pilgrims in the zone which is unrivalled.
Mr. Opara used the opportunity of the visit to present to the Governor the package of the 2013 Christian Pilgrimage exercise as approved by the President. He therefore intimated the Governor that the President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan would be flagging off the 2013 Christian Pilgrimage exercise on 28th October, 2013 and would be on the first batch of intending pilgrims to Israel. He therefore urged the Governor to be part of the flag off and join Mr. President on the Holy Pilgrimage to Israel.
The NCPC boss further urged the No 1 citizen of Abia State to mobilize other Governors within the South East to also join Mr. President on that glorious trip to the Holy Land.
In his response, Governor Theodore Orji congratulated the NCPC boss and the Federal Commissioner representing South East, Rev. Zion Solomon Ibenye for their reappointment for another term of five years by the President. He said that their reappointment was well deserved, having worked selflessly in the last five years to change the face of Christian pilgrimage in Nigeria.
He assured the NCPC helmsman that he would endeavour to sponsor 500 pilgrims to Israel this year as canvassed by him.
His Excellency equally promised to join the President at the flag off ceremony of 2013 Christian Pilgrimage and be part of the team that would fly with him to Israel.
The Governor was supported at the NCPC sensitization visit to his office by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Mkpa Agu Mkpa while the NCPC boss was accompanied to the state by the Federal Commissioner representing South East, Dr. Zion Ibenye, Ex-Officio member representing the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sydney Monekwe, Mr.Gad Onyeanu Special Assistant to the Executive Secretary of NCPC and Mr. Frank Chukwurah NCPC South East Zonal Coordinator.
