Sept 27, 2025
Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has cautioned intending Christian pilgrims from the state against using the pilgrimage exercise as an opportunity to abscond. He gave the warning while flagging off the 2025 Christian pilgrimage in Owerri, in a ceremony captured in a video shared by Channels Television.
Speaking at the event,Uzodinma said the purpose of sponsoring citizens to Israel is for spiritual upliftment and prayers for the state and the country, not for individuals to abandon the program and attempt to remain abroad. He stressed that the government has put measures in place to prevent any act of misconduct by participants.
The governor was firm in his message, saying: “We are not sending you to go there and escape. We will stop at nothing in making sure that those who want to escape will be caught before they escape.”
Uzodinma also called on the pilgrims to uphold the values of discipline and integrity, stressing that their conduct would reflect directly on the image of Imo State and Nigeria. He reminded them that the government’s investment in the program is a gesture of goodwill that must not be abused.
The event was attended by religious leaders, government officials, and families of the departing pilgrims, many of whom pledged to represent the state honorably during their journey to the Holy Land.