Eze Adiuku, reporting from Jordan
The Governor of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodimma, has been lauded for his magnanimity in sponsoring 1000 Imo citizens to take part in the 2025 pilgrimage to Jordan and Isreal.
The Presiding Bishop of House of God International Churches (HOGIC), Owerri, Bishop Athan Azubuike have the commendation while speaking with independentvoice.ng in Amman, Jordan on Monday.
He said: “I think the greatest experience I have is the magnitude of the governor’s benevolence. His magnanimity in sponsoring 1,000 people to Jordan and Israel.
It is an unmatchable quality. Honestly, from Imo State Airport down to the hotel, the food, the visit to the sitse, I have checked what it can cost to sponsor 1,000 people. And I say kudos to the governor. He has done so much.
“It is a mark of a quintessential leader. The next are the organizers. My kudos goes to Reverend Father Professor Gilbert Alaribe. That man is a workaholic man, and he has a team that understands what it means to get people organized.
“Thirdly, our visits to the site from the tour guides opened my eyes more to the reality of the Bible. Yes, I’m a bishop. Somebody will say, what do I mean? You know, what we always read in the Bible is like a story. But getting to the points, like today, I was surprised. I didn’t know. I was surprised to visit the Sodom and Gomorrah site, the Dead Sea, the place where Moses had to hit the rock instead of speaking to the rock. The valley which the water that came out from the rock formed is unprecedented.
“So honestly, it’s a huge experience that if you give me months, it will not be enough for me to dish all of them out. But to God be the glory who granted us journey mercy. And from here, we will move to Israel. And I pray we will also have a peaceful stay there. And I pray that God will grant us journey mercy back home. God bless you”.
In his own remarks, the Special Adviser to Imo State Government on Narcotics and Illicit Drugs, Hon. Chief Ezechukwu Obonna, said he lacks words to describe the governor’s large heart.
“Honestly, the governor of the Imo State is a man that I don’t know the right words to use to describe him. In 2023, he also sponsored the same number of pilgrims to Jordan and Israel. We thought that was over. This year again, he decided to sponsor another 1,000 pilgrims and this exercise is an all expense paid exercise. We flew free of charge from Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport to Queen Alia International Airport here in Jordan. We also got accommodated in a five-star hotel here in Jordan with free accommodation, free flight, free food, and also a whopping sum of money as money for shopping.
“Honestly, the governor is a man that knows that prayer answers all things. Like he said before we departed, he said we should go and pray for Imo State. And according to him, the prayers of the last pilgrims in 2003 did so much in Imo State and we can see what it did.
“Now we have a twin flyover in Imo State. We have a power plant coming up soon. Very soon Imo will have 24 hours electricity. Now our prayer will also bring many more good things to Imo State. The governor is a man who has the fear of God. He’s a man that believes that before you do anything, you need to take authority from God. I appreciate the governor for all he has done. I’m so humbled that in my first time in my life, the governor gave me this wonderful opportunity to come to the Holy Land to pray. I will say thank you, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma.I appreciate you. I appreciate you. I appreciate you”.
