Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State has urged the first batch of state Muslim pilgrims going for the 2018 Hajj in Saudi Arabia, to be good ambassadors of the state and Nigeria.
Dankwambo gave the charge on Wednesday at Gombe International Airport, Lawanti, before their departure to the holy land.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the first batch comprised of 272 female and 288 male pilgrims out of the 1,198 pilgrims that would perform Hajj from the state this year.
He stressed the need for the pilgrims to use the opportunity to perform successful pilgrimage by devoting time to the worship of Allah.
Dankwambo also called on them to obey the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and abide by the rules and regulations put in place by the Saudi authorities, as they were taught during their orientation.
“Please abide by the rules and regulations of the Saudi authority and ensure that you do not violate any law.
“Make sure you conduct yourselves in the very best way that other people will emulate, be good citizens of Gombe State,” he said.
He urged them to cooperate with all the hajj officials and contact them over matters arising from the Hajj exercise.
“Today I wish you all the best and for the exercise to be the gateway to the entering `Jannatul Firdausi’,” he said.
The governor further urged them to pray for the state, country and him aspiring for the country’s presidency in 2019.
In his remarks, the Amirul Hajj, Alhaji Ahmed Usman, commended the governor’s commitment to the Hajj, as he deemed fit to bid farewell to the first batch of pilgrims from the state.
He also called on the pilgrims to exercise patience at all the times and cooperate with the officials for a successful Hajj.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Usman Gurama, Executive Secretary of the State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, told NAN that the board was in contact with the officials of Max Air for the transportation of the second batch of the pilgrims, as it is currently working on manifest for the second flight.
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