GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Nigeria’s midwestern state of Edo has described pilgrimage as a luxury, which
should not be sponsored with tax payers money.
Oshiomhole stated this on Thursday in Benin when the zonal Federal Commissioners and officials of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission paid him a courtesy visit.
He said that haven had a deeper insight into the challenges that confront the Nigerian nation and even Edo as a state, and that pilgrimage was a luxury.
“I have a deeper insight into the challenges that confront the Nigerian nation and even Edo as a state, and have come to the conclusion that pilgrimage is a luxury.
“Even from the point of view of the poor, a man who has no roof over his head cannot be spiritually uplifted if he goes to Israel and returns to a state of homelessness,’’ the governor said.
Oshiomhole said that the totality of the challenges faced by many were homelessness, lack of potable water, decayed infrastructure, unemployment and hunger.
He, therefore, said that pilgrimage was not a priority, but added that the state would not discourage those who want to go.
“But what I am not ready to do is to take tax payers’ money to subsidise someone who wishes to go and pray,’’ the governor said.
“I have issues with that because people who pay taxes work so hard to pay,’’ he said, adding that he felt very strong about subsidising pilgrimage.
The governor said that the state government would rather subsidise production, education and health care, adding that these were central to the survival of the people.
The governor further said that the Edo Government would not campaign for more people going on pilgrimage as it would put more pressure on the exchange rate.
“In any case, only clean heart rather than pilgrimage is what will decide our place hereafter,’’ he said.