Christian Pilgrims should spend more days in the Holy Land – Ayewa

David Ogwole Ayewa, born on June 12, 1952, is the executive secretary, Nasarawa state Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board. In this brief interview with select journalists, the Obi local government area native speaks on a variety of issues including the need for the Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) to increase the number of days for pilgrims in the Holy Land. ADOYI M. ABA brings excerpts.

Background

I have a philosophy to make honest and dynamic contributions to the development and growth in any organisation that has a stake for hard work, in order to excel in developing human resource in transparency and equity and to achieve within a short period of time amidst tough challenges.

I attended the N.A. Primary School, Obi, between 1962 and 1968 and also attended the Exam Success Correspondence School, Lagos, from 1975 to 1976. I attended the School of Health Technology, Pankshin, Plateau state, where I bagged a certificate in community health in 1979 and a diploma in community health in 1985 from the prestigious University of Jos.

I further proceeded to the University of Jos for my advance diploma in health management in 1996. Thereafter, I enroll for an advance diploma in Biblical Studies with the Canon Bible College Lagos between 1997 and 1998. I also have a Bachelor of Science degree in public health from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) between 2011 and 2015.

Apparently, as a result of my selfless service to the Christian community in Nasarawa state, the governor, Engr. A.A. Sule, graciously appointed me as the executive secretary of the Nasarawa state Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board on October 17, 2019.

Congratulations on your appointment as the executive secretary, Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Nasarawa state. You are also a former chairman of the Obi local government area of the then Plateau state.

Thank you so much. You know in 1991, I was elected as the first executive chairman of the Obi LGA of the then Plateau state and now Nasarawa state, and I served until November 1993. Yes, I actively participated in that election under the Grassroots Democratic Movement as the chairman and happened to be chosen by my colleagues to represent the progressive chairmen of the 20 LGAs at that time in Plateau state. My role cumulated into me leading the SDP to win the presidential campaign which was eventually aborted.

Two different executive secretaries were on board before you. Do you think it was due to poor performance, politics or what do you think was responsible for their ousters?

I cannot really say that it was due to any of the things you just stated. You know, the appointment of executive secretaries is being motivated by the chief executives of the states. In this case, Mr. Clement Ode was appointed during the regime of His Excellency, Alhaji Tanko Almakura, and he served for about six years before he was dropped. Then Barrister Musa Aluko, who happened to serve as my secretary in one of the LGAs the period under review, was then appointed. Between the two of them, one is a civil servant and the other a politician, like me. So, I think probably my religious background must have informed them to ask me to come on board. Also, you know as a leader, the people will be the ones to appraise your performance and their feedbacks about your performance will also determine what action will be taken.

Did your appointment as the executive secretary come to you as a surprise?

It did not because I believe that anybody who serves at the local government as a chief executive will not find it very difficult to serve in any office that is quite demanding like this one. Also, considering my background as a Christian, the office I occupied and served in the last administration, as a special adviser to His Excellency, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, and the legacy I left behind as it is in my manner anywhere I serve, I think also motivated my successful appointment to this position. Furthermore, I have become a man that believes so much in the will of God and so I believe it was part of my destiny. 

What is your relationship with members of staff of the board?

Though I am just months and a week or so, my relationship is cordial and is going to improve with time with other members of the board. I hope to interpret policies as enshrined in the Act that established the board, make myself available to the management staff, be on ground to supervise activities and with this and more, I pray for God to lead us as we make impacts and achieve our desired success as we progress.

What was your experience coordinating the activities for the 2019 main pilgrimage, considering the short time you had before the commencement of the general pilgrimage exercise?

I really want to thank the members and staff of the board for their maximum support. I assembled them and let them know that we had to do it together as I did not want to fail God; those who elected me and pilgrims and so I needed their maximum support. I made them understand that if I succeeded, it is they too that would have succeeded and so we swung into action. We got forms, distributed them, and used the mass media of radio, TV, newspapers, online and SMS to facilitate their fast filling the forms and returning them by pilgrims and stakeholders. I want to commend and thank his Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, for his support to me and the board, considering the short time. He still made funds available and on time as 99 per cent of the pilgrims were sponsored by the state. God helped us and pilgrims from Nasarawa state were almost the first batch to flag off the 2019 general pilgrimage.

How will you assess the general performance of the 2019 general pilgrimage by NCPC?

They have performed well. They matched their words with actions and followed their plans judiciously. But I will like to say that NCPC has to sit up in their activities as they concern the issues of visa denials by the Israeli authorities. I believe if they are preview to why a pilgrim is denied visa, the board will be able to manage the issues and sort them out in time to avoid unnecessary hitches running pilgrimage affairs. Also, I think they need to look into increasing the number of days spent in the Holy Land. I remember when I went on pilgrimage in 1992 to the Holy Land, we spent two weeks, and so we had the opportunity of visiting more sites that boosted our faith and beliefs. I hope NCPC will look into that.

Do you intend to set up a measure to assess the performance of the past pilgrims, spiritually and otherwise?

Yes, it’s like you read my mind. I am developing a questionnaire as the first measure to that effect. I will distribute it to those who have participated in the pilgrimage exercise for the past three years using the church leaders in the state as the first direct assessment and then explore other means too. I have come into terms that the monitoring and evaluation stage is what is missing now and must be looked into critically to achieve the whole essence of the pilgrimage exercise.

Where do you go from here after the expiration of your tenure in office?

God leads, I follow. I left civil service in 1987, in 1988 I went into active politics with the mind to serve in that capacity and the belief that if you work hard for a party, you will be rewarded if the party establishes a government. I have never chosen a position to occupy as I have always been appointed or elected by others due to my legacy. I did not ask to be the chairman of the Grassroots Democratic Movement in 1986, but they made me so for the then Plateau and now Nasarawa state. In 1992, I was nicknamed Chairman Mai Coal Tar because I constructed and tarred a 73km road in the headquarters of the LGA. I was appointed as a member of the Board of Trustee. Even here now as the executive secretary, I did not ask to be appointed. It has been God, destiny, and my legacy speaking for me.

Your board enjoys some benefits from the governor; how will you reciprocate his kind gesture?

As the Bible makes us know that we are the salt and light if the world, l will do my best to maintain integrity and openness. I pray God help me to match my words with actions. I hope to leave a legacy of integrity, properly managed the board’s allocations and positive development all through my stay here. This will be my best way to reciprocate his kind gesture to the Christian pilgrims’ welfare board of Nasarawa state.

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