President Goodluck Jonathan landed in Israel on October 25, 2014, Saturday, for a two-day pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
According to the special program designed for president’s stay, the Nigerian leader will observe the Sabbath Day at the Wailing Wall. After prayers in private Jonathan will go where to Mount Tabor and Mount Carmel. The visits to other Christian holy sites are also a part of the program.
The president is to take part in prayers at an Interdenominational Church Service with the topic “A day with Jesus for Nigeria in Israel”.
High-ranking Nigerians are to join the president for the praying service for well-being and prosperity of the nation and during the pilgrimage on the whole.
The Ambassador of Nigeria to Israel, Davi Obasa, welcomed the president upon landing at the David Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv.
Other stakeholders spotted at the airport included the Governor of Anambra State Willie Obiano of Anambra, Brig.- Gen. Jones Arogbofa, the Chief of Staff, and John-Kennedy Opara, Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrims Commission.
Two more governors who joined for 2014 pilgrimage are Gabriel Suswam (Benue) and Jonah Jang (Plateau).
Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Ven. Obioma Onwuzurumba, Chaplain of the Presidential Villa, and Sen. Smart Adeyemi, Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT would also join the president for this 2-day-long event.
Other personalities, who play a major role in the religious live of Nigeria and who joined the president this year, are: Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, Primate Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) and Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, President, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
Other notable members of the federal delegation are: Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, Minister of Water Resources, Prof. Chinedu Neboh, Minister of Power, Chief Olajumoke Akinjide, Minister of State for FCT, Sen. Philip Aduda and Rep. Ndudi Elumelu.
It would be recalled that one year ago President Jonathan performed the pilgrimage to Israel, visited multiple Biblical places, thereby becoming the first sitting Nigerian President to complete it. The leader of the country used that opportunity to pray for Nigeria in the Holy City.
