Breaking: Osinbajo, Sultan Visit Site of Demolished Mosque in Rivers as Presidency Wades into Wike, Muslims Dispute

Malik Yahya/

High powered delegations from the Presidency, the Sultan of Sokoto, and the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs were on a fact-finding mission to Port Harcourt, Rivers State today, following the uproar over a demolished central mosque project in Trans-Amadi by a state agency.

NewsmakersNG learnt that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s delegation visited the mosque project site with Governor Nyesom Wike this afternoon but made no comment there.

After they left the site, a delegation from the Sultan of Sokoto and the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs also visited the disputed site.

Amid outrage from Islamic leaders, groups, and politicians, including Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, and Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje Wike had insisted that he did not demolish any mosque after officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning, along with armed mobile policemen were accused of demolishing structures at the site on August 20, citing non-compliance despite claims of an existing Rivers State approved building plan for the project.

NewsmakersNG had on August 20 broke the story of the mosque demolition.

According to the Imam of the mosque, Alhaji Haroon Muhammed, the project actually began 10 years ago and it had suffered an earlier demolition under the administration of Wike’s predecessor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, leading to a lawsuit in which the worshippers became victorious six years ago.

Armed with the court judgement, the worshippers returned to the site and continued the project, only for Wike’s men to storm the site on August 20.

0