….calls on EFCC, ICPC to investigate the commission under Pam’s leadership
Pricked by his conscience of his muteness over the nasty and disgruntled experience he had during the last pilgrimage he was a team leader to Rome with over 130 people Adamawa state government scheduled for the Holy exercise, a Catholic Bishop of Yola Diocese Dr Steven Dami Mamza called on the sacking of the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Christians Pilgrimage commission (NCPC), Rev Yakubu Pam.
Mamza in a press conference today Yola said the commission is in a big time mess under Yakubu’s leadership that is calling the activities of Pam be investigated as a lot of things are going on wrong there.
“I would not hesitate to say that EFCC, ICPC should go and investigate the activities of the commission under Pam leadership because a lot of things are going on there wrong. All necessary agencies should go there and investigate the many abnormalities.” Mamza.
Mamza who is the Adamawa state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said Pam would not do much difference than what is seeing and the commission is passing through because he is a sacked church pastor with the Assembly of God.
“What do you expect from someone that has been sacked from his Church? The Assembly of God Church have sacked him, And it was unfortunate he was given such an appointment. In fact he is a disappointment to Christianity. ” he said.
He blamed the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari who have failed to do a background tract record before given such appointment, even if it’s a political appointment to him.
Dami said the only solution to the bedeviling state of the commission is that the place should be sanitize by bringing the right persons that they will do the job neatly.
While calling on Yakubu to honorable resign base on the things that are happening in NPC, he alleged that he seems to be single handedly working without others, running the affairs as his personal estate without engaging other stakeholders who are critical in make sure the commission is working well in the interest of all Christians in Nigeria.
“Recently the Chairman of NCPC issued a letter of how Pam turn the commission like his personal estate, no involving them in the affairs of the commission. If it’s a Christian pilgrimage commission I expect sanity that other commission should learn from them and live by example that other should copy.” Mamza revealed
He revealed how Adamawa holy pilgrimage was frustrated by Pam because money earmarked was not channel to him.
“As a Catholic Bishop he wanted to support in the whole process in Adamawa after undue and unnecessary delays but the exercise was scuttled down by Yakubu Pam.
“The first arrangements was perfect in Adamàwa Pilgrimage but Yakubu Pam frustrated it because the whole Money didn’t go through him. Several times he came to Adamawa State and Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri and many well meaning individuals begged him but only insisted by written to Italian Embassy to denied the Adamawa Pilgrimage visas.
“At the end of the day everything was submitted to him and he ended up given us this mess. The last pilgrimage organized himself at the National was another mess to the extent those that paid with their money couldn’t get accommodation and good feeding.
We can not continue to keep silence, we must save the situation another exercise is coming so that things should be avoided.
“Things are not in order, that is why we are calling for intervention.” He said
According to Dami before the press conference he made steadfast efforts to personal advise him the right way to go but shunned him and turn deaf ears.
“Before this conference we had a meeting in Rome called his attention to all these lapses but to all no success as he refused to adhere to every advise given.
“Even in Rome, he disappeared and left us stranded. Anyone you asked as a national official will tell you that they know nothing about the whole thing, meaning he is doing it alone
“I reflected on the experience we went through in Rome. My conscience has been bothering me regarding the activities that has taken in the national pilgrimage commission under the leadership of Reverend Yakubu Pam.
“The pilgrimage we went to Rome if not because I happened to be there and I happened to be the team leader, Adamawa state citizens would have been stranded, left in the Nigerian embassy in Rome. The government of Adamawa had gave adequate resources in order to handle the exercise, but nothing was actually done by NPC. No any good arrangement was made to carry people in Rome,
“The transportation logistics was very poor. The only thing that went well was my personal efforts to have organized a meeting with the Holy Pop where he recognized the pilgrims from Adamawa.
“No accommodation provided, no feeding I had to go to the Vatican City bank and withdraw money from my account to to be able to solve people’s problems because the National collected the money and didn’t use it for the said purpose..
“There was no proper pro visit before we went and because of poor arrangement by Pam the exercise was not a good experience as the intended days to spend was suppose to be 7 days but some ended up spending 5 days.
“The Adamawa team had three first class chiefs who are personally with disgruntled experience that they became liabilities like any other persons with no proper arrangement to take care of everyone was what most of us experience.
“Before now I waited to see the outcome of the pilgrimage the national executive secretary himself organized under the national pilgrimage commission (NPC) which took place last month and I understand that our own situation was even better. Their own was even worse, with a deputy governor, and with first rulers in the team some of them ended up with no VISA, find themselves in different countries they never plan for.” Dami stated
Efforts to get Pam’s reaction was not possible as his phone after many dialing is not been picked and all messages to his Whatsapp number till press time are not being replied to.