Alleged demolition of Mosque in Rivers: Group hails Ganduje for swift intervention

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

A group, Coalition of Northern Patriots(CNP) has said the switch intervention of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje over the alleged demolition of Mosque by Governor Wike of the River State saved what could have been a reprisals on churches and Christians in the state and the country at large.
The spokesperson of the group, Ali Ibrahim disclosed this during a press conference held in the Kaduna yesterday.
Ali Ibrahim alleged that “when the news of the demolition of Rainbow Central Mosque of Port Harcourt, Rivers State went viral in the social media, there were some speculations in the media that Governor Wike did not see anything wrong with that , instead of him to apologise to the Muslims of this nation, he just went ahead to castigate those who cared to listen that he did what he did because rivers is a Christian state, suffocating the constitutional secular arrangement of the Nigerian geo-political entity.”
This was even as they condemned the action of River State governor over the demolition of the mosque.
‘However, when the governor started denying , the chairman of the Rainbow Central Mosque, Alhaji Abdullahi Musa Tobacco,came out to tell the world that the Mosque was demolished on the 20 August by officials suspected to be acting on Rivers state government orders.
‘Tobacco further explained that the government officials, who came with armed policemen, pulled down the pillars erected at the site as well as the foundation of the building which has gone up to DPC level, citing non compliance with the State Urban development laws.
CNP observed that when tension started emanating within the Muslims circles, particularly from the north, governor of Kano state, governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state intervened swiftly, to avert any reprisals, which could put the corporate existence of the country into chaos .
CNP said they received the information of the demolition of Rainbow Central Mosque of Port Harcourt with high degree of shock.
The chairman said, “I am assuring the general public that, all necessary action against this demolition will be taken through appropriate authorities.”
The statement explained that Governor Ganduje’s intervention was to ensure peace in the state, adding that he made it clear in an effort to calm down nerves, by assuring that necessary actions, which include legal action against the demolition of central Mosque, would be taken.
The statement further state, “Governor Ganduje also tame any possibility of attack against Churches and Christians, in Kano, reminding the people that Kano state is known for peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians.
‘We should therefore improve on that and remain calm and peaceful. people should please live peacefully with one another.”