Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has given the executive secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Shehu Ahmed Hadi, 24 hours to explain the status of the National Mosque and what compensation plan is meant for it.
Wike gave the order yesterday when he received members of the Abuja National Mosque Management Committee led by the chairman and Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar.
He debunked reports that his administration was promoting policies that were against certain religious alignments.
According to the Minister, “The Sultan of Sokoto is one person I have high regard for. I do not just see him as an elder brother, but like a father. Anything that has to do with the National Mosque, for which he is the president, I will always give it support.
Wike said those trying to whip up religious sentiment are doing so to score some cheap political points.
“We are not targeting any religious or ethnic group; we are doing what we can for the good of all FCT residents and Nigerians at large. Do not allow politicians who do not have the capacity to face me in any way to use religion as a weapon against me,” he stated.
He said as a Nigerian, he has no reason to instigate hate speech against any religious group but to support any that has a genuine cause.
Reacting to allegations that he intends to stop cows from grazing in Abuja, Wike said cows should not feed in the city centre where there are only flowers, but outside the city centre where you have grasses to eat.
Earlier in his statement, the Etsu Nupe urged the minister to support the maintenance project of the National Mosque, which he disclosed had been stalled for some time now.
He also pleaded with the minister to grant the committee more time to develop plots of land allocated to it by FCTA.
