It all started in 2020 when the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Mr Olisa Ifeajika gave me the pilgrims forms to the Holy land of Israel…
What a golden opportunity?
The journey billed for 2020 was hampered by the high level of Covid-19 infection in the world thus resulting in the lockdown of most countries including Israel…
All hope for the spiritual exercise disappeared and I felt bad that the rare privilege to see Holy sites in Israel,Jerusalem and Jordan was gone.
Amidst the lockdown,several verification of documents and health status of intending pilgrims was carried out by the Delta State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board under the Chairmanship of Archbishop Cyril Odutemu.
In one of the meetings,International passport of contingents were collected for presentation for screening at the embassy in Nigeria.
In 2021,the long awaited trip resurfaced and several meetings were held between the board and pilgrims.
In one of the meetings,the board intimated intending pilgrims that Israel was still on lockdown and that plans were on to endorse Jordan as the new Holy land.
It resulted in a debate where it was agreed that those going to either Israel or Jordan should append their names to their country of choice.
The hope of the journey received a boost when the Federal Government approved Jordan as prefered destination for Christian Pilgrims due to bilateral relations and by mere fact that it is the country that was receiving pilgrims despite the threat of Covid-19 globally.
Cashing in on this,the Chairman and members of the Delta State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board paid visits to Jordan and fine tuned all arrangements for pilgrims from Delta to be airlifted.
Satisfied with the status quo,messages were sent to pilgrims that they will undergo compulsory Covid-19 test before they will depart the country on the 1st of September to Jordan.
Yours sincerely did the needful and on the agreed date joined the cleared 315 pilgrims to Rivers State International Airport Portharcourt en route Jordan.
On arrival at the airport,necessary documentations and screenings were done.
It was a stressful exercise I must say…
At few minutes past one a.m on the 2nd of September, pilgrims started boarding the aircraft but 75 of us were not allowed into the chattered plane because the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission could not upload all the Covid-19 test result.
At few minutes to 2 a.m,the international Airbus took off and the 75 of us were left at the airport as orphans after meeting all that was needed for the journey.
As mortals, we gathered and prayed God to take charge and grant those that made it safe trip.
As early as 6am,the 75 of us gathered and prayed God to break protocols for our sake.
Did our cry hit the throne of heaven?
Yes it did…..
As God will always be God,the state chairman of the Delta State Christian Association of Nigeria CAN Senior Apostle Sylvanus Okorote who was also not airlifted placed a call to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa on all that transpired and at the end he assured us that there was still hope of joining our brethren in Jordan.
Little did we know that God heard our prayers and that the governor was willing to pay the prize for us to be in Jordan amidst all odds.
At 9am, buses were brought to the airport for people to be transported back to their various destinations while efforts began to grow stronger for us to be airlifted again.
On the 3rd, we gathered again for another Covid-19 test for us to travel on the 4th of September and the result came out and we all made it.
Lo and behold, on the 4th we left for Portharcourt and were airlifted to Jordan with another chattered flight courtesy of the Delta State Government.
We flew 9 hours to get to Queen alia airport Amman in Jordan to commence the pilgrimage.
It was a pleasurable experience as the visit afforded us opportunity to see Holy sites as stated in the Bible.
Sites visited include Jacob river,Mount Nebo,River Jordan,the Dead Sea,Nazareth church,Madaba city and other places of interest in Jordan.
We also visited cities and tourist sites that has turned the country into emerging world tourism destination.
Ordinarily, a country that has 80 percent of its landmass as desert coupled with high mountains would have been doomed due to its topography but instead the country took the bull by the horn by embarking on massive road projects and transformation in all sectors.
Amidst the fact that the country is governed through monarchy, its economy is very vibrant as seen in its currency Jedi which is higher than the dollar.
Additionally,the welfare of citizens is paramount while equal attention is given to all parts of the country in terms of security and development.
In all of these,I give God the glory for journey mercies and for seeing me through four Covid-19 tests where it was negative all through.
I openly thank Governor Okowa for his doggedness in ensuring that residents of the state took part in this yearly Holy ritual.
I wish to remind our leaders at all levels in Nigeria that each time they jet out of the country,they should as a matter of priority seek ways of replicating all they see abroad at home in terms of human capital and infrastructural development.
For Jordan to get to the level it is without a drop of oil means that the wealth of Nigeria has ended in private pockets at the expense of the masses who are now grappling with myriads of challenges.
To the new Jordan Pilgrims JPs, please be true reflection of Jesus in your action and inaction.
May God remain with Nigeria….