From Rose Oranye Anambra
The Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr Law Mefor, on Wednesday, received the Special Assistant to Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo on Pilgrims, Office of the Deputy Governor, Barr. Odira Ezeh, who led a delegation of his workers on a courtesy visit to his office at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka.
Receiving the delegation, Dr Mefor said he understood the spiritual weight of the pilgrimage assignment because he once served as assistant secretary of a Christian Pilgrims’ Welfare Board.
He described pilgrimage as more than a social trip or tourism, saying it is a spiritual exercise that strengthens faith and gives believers a direct encounter with biblical history and urged the pilgrims’ office to help intending pilgrims see the journey as a period of self-examination.
The commissioner linked the spiritual essence of pilgrimage to Governor Soludo’s governance philosophy, describing the governor as a “self-actualising” leader. “Our governor, Prof Chukwuma Charles Soludo, is a deeply spiritual person. That is why I call him the number one moral agent in Anambra. He consistently emphasises the importance of morality and encourages us to focus on the higher values of life, always saying, ‘Aka aja aja na ebute onu mmanu mmanu. “Life is not just about waking up, eating, and sleeping.”
He cited Soludo’s infrastructure drive in neglected communities and his social policies as proof of the governor’s deep concern for the excluded, the vulnerable, and the underserved.
Mefor said the Pilgrims’ Office has a role to play in the state’s fight against “criminal idolatry” and fake spirituality. “Your work complements the efforts of the government to rid the state of fake dibias and fake pastors, who hide behind religion and traditional worship to perpetrate evil and crimes. We are fighting a deep spiritual battle in Anambra to take back our state.
He referenced the recent Onitsha operation where a “pastor” with 75 wives was arrested and challenged purveyors of “Okite money rituals” and “Odeshi bulletproof charms” to prove their powers or continue to face criminal persecution.
He pledged the ministry’s collaboration to educate citizens on the true purpose of pilgrimage and governance. “So remain focused. This is the Ministry of Information. We have a flagship live radio programme, ‘Ask the Commissioner’, every Thursday from 1 to 2 pm. As head of the pilgrims’ office, we will schedule you for one of these Thursdays so you can speak directly to Ndi Anambra about your work.”
“Your job is thankless, but your reward is in heaven. God is watching. For those who have not been to Israel, keep pushing. Take one or two people at a time. If you stay long enough on the job, everyone will go,” he concluded.
In his remarks, Barr. Odira Ezeh, the special assistant to the governor on pilgrims, stated that the visit aimed to inform the ministry about the governor’s agenda for the Pilgrims Office and to strengthen collaboration between his office and the ministry in the areas of public enlightenment, effective information, and improved stakeholder engagement in pilgrim matters.
He maintained that Governor Soludo has continued to demonstrate remarkable interest and investment in pilgrim affairs, recognising their spiritual, social, and economic significance to Ndị Anambra.
According to him, the deputy governor, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, has consistently championed policies and initiatives aimed at repositioning the Pilgrims’ Office for enhanced efficiency, transparency, and service delivery for intending pilgrims.