Allegation on Mosque demolition in Rivers State is Politically motivated – Minister

 

The Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike has clarified the controversies around the alleged demolition of a mosque in Rivers State while he served as governor of the state.

 

Wike gave this clarification when he received the Board of the Abuja National Mosque, led by its Chairman, His Royal Highness, Alh. Yahaya Abubakar in his office in Abuja Nigeria’s capital.

 

The Minister hinted that the allegation that he demolished a Mosque in River State while he was governor of the state was politically motivated by his opponents to discredit him then.

 

Wike also extended the ‘develop or revoke’ order issued to religious organisations, from the three months ultimatum earlier issued to owners of undeveloped plots.

 

On plot 63 the Minister gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the FCDA to report back on the status of the plot.

 

The FCTA, in September, granted a three-month grace period for owners of 189 undeveloped plots of land in Abuja, to begin developing them or risk having their allocation papers revoked.

 

However, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, announced that the administration will extend the ultimatum on religious groups since they largely depend on free-will donations for sustenance.

 

He added that no government will hesitate to support the renovation of a national monument, be it a Mosque or a Church.

 

He further committed that whatever assistance had been in place for the National Mosque would be sustained, if not improved upon

 

“In order to fight crime, and change the landscape of the city, we will not allow uncompleted buildings, therefore those who gave theirs, go now and start completing. 

 

We know the finances of religious groups, they are handicapped as they are not business people, and it is only when people come to support them.

 

“In such areas, we can say on religious grounds, instead of three months, we can give additional time but it is not targeted at anybody or group. 

 

Now you have come and explained, which reasonable man would not accept it. So our people should stop saying he is targeting some group or religion or ethnic group, no, it is for the interest of all of us.

 

“We will extend it, so we will not restrict it to three months for you, as a religious group, because there is no money as people come to support you. And it is only when they support that you can carry out whatever you are doing.”

 

Earlier, the Abuja National Mosque Management Board, led by its Chairman, the Etsu Nupe (the chief of Nupe people), Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar urged the Minister to support the maintenance project of the National Mosque, which he disclosed had been stalled for some time now.

 

Abubakar said the group was at the FCTA to seek clarification on the status of plot, 63, where they were directed to halt development during the construction of the Outer Southern Expressway.

 

He explained that work was due to start on the plot located opposite the Yar’Adua Center before a stop-work notification was issued to the management of the mosque.

 

The Etsu Nupe also used the opportunity to seek support to complete the ongoing renovation of the FCT National Mosque, which was carried out by the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, before the inauguration of President Tinubu’s administration.

 

He pointed out that the National Mosque was recognised as a national monument by President Olusegun Obasanjo, who initiated a fundraiser for the renovation of the edifice.

 

However, on plot 99, the royal father said the plot has been getting the right attention as the council has obtained a building plan approval to begin development soon.

 

He also pleaded with the Minister to grant the Committee more time to develop plots of land allocated to it by FCTA.

 

Dominica Nwabufo