Presidential candidate tells Nigerian govt to stop sponsoring pilgrimages

The Presidential candidate of Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria (GDPS), Dr Davidson Akhimien, has challenged the Federal Government of Nigeria to stop sponsoring pilgrimages of the two major religious faiths.

Davidson, who is also the founder of King David International Ministry stated this on Thursday in Abuja, when he delivered a keynote address at the Forum of Ministers for Peace and Reconciliation, entitled: ‘The impact of religion on Nigeria’s democracy,’ noted that spirituality was a personal affairs.

According to him, “The present government policy on religious pilgrimages should be abolished. Pilgrimages should be private, personal and not a state affair.”

He also advised government to ensure “certification, registration, licencing and monitoring of religious clerics and organisations through a dedicated agency to help check extremist tendencies.

“Wherever religious education is taught, government should ensure that toleration doctrines are included in the syllabi and all such syllabi should be screened.

“As much as possible, state agents should desist from courting the participation of clerics in the political process. It should be noted that these clerics have a cult-figure personality and their followers may misinterpret government intentions whenever there is an overt and outlandish show of government patronage of their religious leaders,” he said.

The Edo State indigene also lamented the poor state of governance in the country, promising to change the fortunes of Nigerians for good.

He further urged clerics to encourage Christian faithful to get involved in politics, stressing that governance should not left in the hands of charlatans and those who don’t have the fear of God.

“It is a shame that since 1960, the economic situation has remained the same.

“I can see people mourning because of no food despite the economic endowment the country is blessed with natural resources,” he added.