The Management Board of the Abuja National Mosque has come out to deny reports that the Minister of the Federal Capital Terrority, Nyesom Wike, ordered a partial demolition of the National Mosque.
The board’s Director of Finance and Administration, Haliu Shuaib refuted the reports during a press conference in Abuja which was monitored by Africa Today News, New York.
There were unconfirmed reports that Wike ordered the partial demolition of the national mosque during a meeting with the Abuja mosque management committee led by Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe.
The committee had visited the minister to seek clarification on the status of plots 63 and 99 allocated to the mosque. The visit followed FCTA’s three-month grace period for owners of undeveloped plots to either develop the land or have their certification revoked.
The report had drawn the irk of controversial Islamic scholar Ahmad Gumi who had called for Wike’s removal.
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Reacting, Shuaib said: ‘It has come to the attention of the Abuja National Mosque Management that there is a news item making the rounds in social and print media regarding the purported partial demolition of the National Mosque.
‘The report is creating tension and anxiety amongst the Muslim Ummah in the country and beyond. The Chairman of the Abuja National Mosque Management Board and his delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of the FCT and were warmly received.
‘Discussions were constructive and cordial; issues of mutual interest were discussed as they affect the development of Plot 99. The Minister was briefed that the development of the plot was receiving serious attention.
‘On the development of Plot 63, opposite Yar’adua Centre, the chairman briefed Wike that a substantial part of the plot had been consumed by the proposed Inner Northern Expressway.
‘The Chairman, therefore, requested to know the status of the plot and that the remaining part be re-allocated and appropriate replacement of the lost portion be given to the mosque. To this request, the minister’s response was positive.
‘On renovation of the mosque, the Chairman appealed to Wike to use his good office to complete the renovation of the National Mosque. He promised to look at the issue.
‘The National Mosque wishes to inform the public that there was never a time the minister mentioned the demolition of any part of the National Mosque. The general public should, therefore, ignore the social and print media campaign and completely disregard the fake news in circulation.