BY AMOS TAUNA – KADUNA – The Coalition of Northern Youth Groups on Tuesday said the allegation of a demolition of a mosque allegedly located at Trans Amadi Road, GRA, Port Harcourt in Rivers state is an attempt to stir crisis in the country.
The coalition explained that a visits to Rivers state has so far revealed that none of the structures demolished was or is a mosque building.
The groups therefore noted that the fuss over alleged demolition was nothing but an attempt by some politicians to capitalize on falsehood in order to fan the furnace of ethnic, religious or regional division just for self-serving and fiendish gains while endangering the collective goodwill and peace.
Convener of the groups, Mohammed Sanni, who stated these in a press statement on Tuesday in Kaduna further said; “Coalition of Northern Youth Groups has observed with patriotic disenchantment the worrisome trend of some politicians capitalizing on falsehood to fan the furnace of ethnic, religious or regional division just for self-serving and fiendish gains while endangering the collective goodwill and peace.
“It should be noted that we immediately swung into action on hearing the disturbing news and have conducted an on the spot visit to the said location and our findings are very contrary to the falsehood being peddled.
“A diligent assessment of the location showed that even though structures were demolished around that area, none of such structures was or is a mosque building.
“The recent wild rumor of an alleged demolition of a mosque located at Trans Amadi Road, GRA, Rivers State is not only false and misleading but intended to draw religious ire, stir political tension and widen the chasm of national division, which rather requires healing and bonding at this point in time.”
The Coalition’s statement explained that on further interaction with residents and the Muslim community in the area, they gathered that the said location being labelled as a mosque building belongs to an individual who was building his personal structure without government approval.
According to Sanni; “The said fellow had gone ahead to erect a foundation on the site ostensibly to wade off government action, he thereafter proceeded to unilaterally label the location as a mosque. Further findings led us to the clear revelation that the matter has been properly addressed by the relevant Courts and the government was acting within the precincts of the law.
“Judging from this, rationality should only dictate that if the property owner has/had any issue of contention, the Courts were and are still open to address his grievances rather than resorting to inflaming the polity with tense religious passions.”
It further said that available statistics on religious tolerance clearly shows that the governor of Rivers state is far ahead of others and as such his name and person should not be dragged into such issue all in the name of painting him black before our northern brothers and sisters.
“Gover Wike’s policies are friendly and his administration operates an open door policy irrespective of your region and religion. And what else did you expect from a nationalist like him? We are aware of the plot against him and we shall enlighten our fellow youths from northern part of the country against such plot!
“We have also seen the gusto with which political horse traders and religious alarmists have taken the matter and have therefore deemed it of prime importance to address our youth throughout the North and also those resident in Port Harcourt to remain calm and maintain the peace as we are still in wide consultations.
“It should not be lost on everyone that the Governor of Rivers State – Chief Nyesom Wike is a very good friend of the North and a brother to the Muslim community.”
