Malik Yahya/
Leaders of the Muslim community in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, have condemned the demolition of the N450,000,000 Central Mosque project in Trans-Amadi by the state government, as they called on President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the National Assembly to intercede on behalf of the over 10,000 worshippers.
According to the Imam of the mosque, Alhaji Haroon Muhammed, the mosque was illegally demolished by officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning who came with armed mobile policemen on August 20 citing non-compliance despite the existence of Rivers State approved building plan.
Appealing to Governor Nyesom Wike to allow Muslims to have a place of worship in Trans-Amadi, Imam Muhammed said, “In the whole of Port Harcourt, this is the most populated mosque. Muslims all over the world can see what has happened to a mosque that is duly approved by the state government in Rivers State. The government of Rivers State had harassed us three times now – once on the 29th of last month, then on Thursday 16th of August and 20th without any formal notice or anything.
“Today, we are denied a place of worship. We don’t want to foment any problem with government officials. We want the world to help us beg the governor to have a change of mind for us to have a place of worship because this Trans-Amadi Central Mosque is the only mosque serving the whole of Trans-Amadi. Members of all the armed forces, the agencies, the police, army, oil company workers, and government workers that are Muslims have only this place to worship.
“We acquired this place. We did not encroach. We bought it and it’s duly approved by the state government. But today, we don’t know what has happened. We want everybody to help us beg the government to please leave this small place for us to worship. Please, we are begging him in the name of Allah, the Lord of the Universe, who made him the governor.”
The Imam revealed that the plight of Muslims worshipping at Trans-Amadi Central Mosque began 10 years ago when the building project was first demolished on a Friday, under the administration of Wike’s predecessor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi. The demolition led to a lawsuit in which the worshippers became victorious six years ago.
Armed with the court judgment, the worshippers returned to the site and have allegedly committed much money to the project again before the demolition squad moved in on Tuesday.
