Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has admonished Christians to separate Holy Pilgrimage to the Holy Land from business trips to the state of Israel to maintain the sanctity of Christian fate.
Speaking while receiving officials of the Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission led its Executive Secretary, Revd. Dr. Uja Tor Uja at the Cocoa Conference Hall of his office in Akure, Governor Akeredolu advised the commission to separate religious activities from business in order to remain focused on its mandate.
The governor who lauded the spiritual activities of the commission which according to him have made real, the various soul lifting messages of hope and mercy of God to His people as contained in the Holy Writ said, combining religious activities with business were capable of derailing the commission.
While reacting to the request of the commission for sponsorship of Christians on pilgrimage, Arakunrin Akeredolu said the commission should encourage churches for such sponsorship rather than looking up to government in view of the lean resources accruing to the government at the moment.
The governor who assured that the board of the Christian Welfare Board would soon be constituted , however noted that it has since been a State Government policy not to sponsor either Christians and Muslims on Holy Pilgrimage due to paucity of funds and the need for prudent management of available state resources. He stressed the need to encourage churches and wealthy individuals to take up the challenge.
He charged Christians to continue to pray for Nigeria and the well-being of citizens.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Revd Dr.Uja Tor Uja had described Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as an embodiment of humility and therefore prayed for the success of his administration.
He appealed to members of the State Executive Council recently inaugurated and other appointees of the governor to be diligent and upright in the discharge of their duties so as to move the state to  greater heights.
The Executive Secretary used the opportunity of the visit to  pray for the State Government and presented a souvenir of the commission to the governor.
Other officials of the commission and Christian Association of Nigeria present during the visit are: Â Head of Mobilization, Mr Sunday Udeh; Head of Media, Sunday Oguntola; Ondo State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Revd. John Ayo Oladapo; CAN State Secretary, Rotji Nyokke, Esq; CAN State Ex-Officio II, Prince Paul Adetiloye; OAIC Chairman , Prophet Dr Akin Daramola.
Also the National Deputy President of the Association of Christian Royal Fathers who is also the President of the Association of Christian Royal Fathers in Southwest Nigeria, the Olowo of Owo, Oba Dr. Olateru OIagbegi, III, CFR, led the following traditional fathers to the event: the Elemure of Emure in Ekiti State, Oba Emmanuel Adebayo; the Ajobu of Araromi Obu, Oba Aderemi Adelola; the Alakola of Akola Ijesha in Osun State, Oba Dr. Festus Adekunle Adeyemi; the Onpetu of Ijeru, Oyo State,Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran;  the Oloye of Oye Oba Oluwole Michael Ademolaju and the Personal Assistant to the Olowo, Chief  Niran Osuporu.
The Governor’s Team on the occasion include: the Deputy Governor, Hon. Agboola Ajayi; Secretary to the State Government, Hon Agboola Ajayi; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Olugbenga Ale; Honourable Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Yemi Olowolabi; Honourable Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Femi Agagu;  Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Utilities, Engineer Tunji Ariyomo; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Research and Documentation, Mr Kunle Adebayo;  Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties and Strategy, Dr. Doyin Odebowale and the State  Secretary of Ondo State Christian Welfare Board, Pastor Rowland  Adekunwa and other  top government functionaries.
