Anambra Traditional Rulers Promise To Partner Pilgrims Board On Spiritual, Moral Rebirth
The Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council (ASTRUC) has expressed willingness to work with the State Pilgrim Office for a healthier spiritual life among the youth.
Igwe Chidubem Iweka, the Traditional Ruler of Obosi and Chairman of ASTRUC made the commitment when he received Barr Odira Ezeh, Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Chukwuma Soludo on Pilgrims in his palace, Obosi on Wednesday.
Ezeh visited the traditional ruler to seek support of the council and make them strategic partners in the effort towards repositioning pilgrimage administration in the State.
Iweka said there has been a serious setback in the spiritual life of the youth in the last three years because of them had taken to idol worship and fetish lifestyle in the guise of embracing traditional religion.
The traditional ruler who commended Soludo for his determined fight against fake traditional rulers said fetish practice and money ritual was the tradition of the people.
He said the Pilgrimage was a crucial spiritual movement that could help the society regain its spiritual values and promised that the traditional rulers council would work with the Pilgrims Office to achieve its objectives.
“We have had a serious spiritual setback in recent times because our youths have gone into worship of idols, many of them are into Okeite and Eze-nwanyi in the guise of traditional worship.
“I must commend the Pilgrim Office for what you are doing, I shall invite you to our next meeting where you can address all the traditional rulers, we will give you 100 percent support,” he said.
Earlier in his address, Ezeh said the visit to the ASTRUC chairman was to intimate them on its programmes and the investment opportunities within the Pilgrims subsector.
He said they were committed to building a Pilgrims Office that was transparent, accountable, efficient, and people-oriented, in line with the vision of the administration to give fair opportunity to everyone irrespective of their economic status.
“It is the earnest desire of the governor that the ordinary trader, rural farmer, the widow, and the less privileged in our communities should have the opportunity to undertake a pilgrimage to the Holy Land without financial burden.
“We therefore humbly seek your partnership in mobilising traditional rulers across the State to work closely with the Pilgrims Office in sensitisation, identifying deserving pilgrims, and promoting values of faith, integrity, unity, and responsible citizenship,” he said.
Ezeh said the Pilgrim Office under the supervision of the Deputy Governor would continue to provide purposeful leadership towards repositioning Pilgrims administration through development of exchange programs and upgrading of Blessed Iwene Tansi Shrine Aguleri to an international holy site.
