President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, inaugurated the federal government delegation to this year’s Christian pilgrimage operation; with a note of warning to Christian pilgrims shun any actions that are capable of denting the country’s image.
“Prospective pilgrims must be discouraged from acts capable of tarnishing our country’s image. They must be told about the dangers of engaging in acts that clearly subvert federal government’s efforts at providing an atmosphere conducive for? pilgrims to fulfil their religious obligations in the foreign land”, the president stated.
Speaking during the formal inauguration of the? delegation for the 2012 Christian pilgrimage at the presidential villa, Abuja, Jonathan said that he was impressed by reports reaching government indicating that the country has made tremendous progress in reasserting itself as having lawful and credible citizens.
He noted that cases of absconding by pilgrims have not been reported in a couple of years, and stressed that the positive impact of this on the country’s international image and international relations was quite rewarding.
Jonathan said, “Since the inception of this administration, we have made the leaders of both the Christians and Muslims the permanent leaders of delegations or their representatives.