By Odunayo Agboluaje
The need to restructure and expand its transportation system as well as give the state the much-needed infrastructure face-lift prompted the state government to incorporate the construction of bus terminals into its infrastructural revolution agenda.
As a result of its vantage location, Iwo Road was designed as the destination for one of the terminals. To build the terminal at the Iwo Road axis, many structures had to give way for development.
One of such structures and monuments that needed to pave the way for development to spring up is the Adogba Central Mosque. The mosque, which was one of the legacies of the Haramain Islamic Foundation, was received by the Organisation of Tadhamunul Muslimeen Mosque following the departure of the Islamic Foundation from the country.
Demolishing a historic religious centre was a herculean task before Governor Seyi Makinde.
Against this backdrop, Makinde had to persuade the leadership of the mosque for the relocation of the religious centre with a promise to rebuild a new one from his personal resources.
Lo and beyond, the leadership of the mosque acceded to Makinde’s demand in order to accommodate modern motor parks along the main express road.
And the governor fulfilled his promise with the commissioning of the mosque on Thursday, November 16, 2023.The Mosque, built with the state-of-the-art facilities has Islamic school, Islamic center, and it can accommodate thousands of worshipers at a time. It comprises an Islamic Centre, a Research Library, an event hall and a creche.
For the inauguration, Governor Makinde hosted prominent personalities from far and wide.
Commissioning the mosque, the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, sued for religious harmony among religious adherents.
The Sultan implored Nigerians to continue to pray for religious harmony, political stability and peace across the world.
The Sultan lauded Governor Makinde for making a commitment to build the mosque and fulfilling it, saying: “When you see the way this mosque was before and it actually turned out to be this, you cannot but thank Allah for the life of Seyi Makinde for thinking this way and also doing it. A lot of people say something but implementing it is always a problem’’.
The NSCIA president-general, who conferred his name ‘Sa’ad’ on the Oyo State governor for embarking on building a house for Allah in such a beautiful manner, said the new mosque, which also has an Islamic School, would help people to strive to be more educated for the world and thereafter.
He said: “I am the one called Sa’ad, but today I want to rename you Sa’ad. We thank Allah for bringing us to Ibadan for this very important programme.
“About three years ago when I spoke with the governor on phone, he told me he was building a mosque in a strategic place in Ibadan, and I told him I know where the place is. He told me I would commission the project and I assured that I would fulfill his request.
“I have moved around the whole area here and I can tell you that this is the most beautiful structure here. Whenever you pass along here, you won’t miss it and that is what we are supposed to be doing for the people. We should build houses of Allah in the most beautiful manner.
“The mosque is not just a place of worship but a school also. Now, having an Islamiya with a beautiful mosque, we cannot but strive more to be educated for the world and hereafter. So, let us use such facilities to educate ourselves, our brothers and sisters so that we live peacefully with one another as peaceful coexistence is important to us.
“Today, we are here by the will of Almighty Allah and this is a very good work, which we believe the governor has taken up. This is a good history we want to be replicated everywhere. So, we thank you, His Excellency.”
The Sultan charged that the edifice should be well-maintained.
In his speech, the Oyo State governor explained that when he decided to pull down the Adogba Central Mosque and a church, which both stood on the spot where the state government is building its mega Bus Terminal, there was an insinuation from the Muslim community, as some people had already begun to view the appointments made by his government as one-sided.
The governor equally stressed that apart from building physical infrastructure, his administration also believed in building spiritual infrastructure to reconcile the people to God as they continue to contribute to the development of the state.
He said: “I went to the mosque and I worshiped with the Muslim Ummah. I told them that the mosque and the church around it will be demolished, because we already put forward a road-map for accelerated development, which means we had to focus on the development of our infrastructure.
“I understood the fact that there was trust deficit between the government and the people. So, before we even said anything, some people were already insinuating.
“But when I spoke at the mosque that day; I saw that 90 per cent of the people believed me and every time I ran out of money building this mosque, because it was built with my personal money, I always remembered those 90 per cent who believed me that I would rebuild the mosque as I promised.
“We are here today and I am sure that everyone knows the story. We actually completed this project before the election. But some people said I should not be re-elected because I am a Christian.
“Today, I can tell the entire world that I got over 70 per cent of the votes from the Muslim community in Oyo State.
“So, I want to take this opportunity to appreciate the Muslim leaders and the community for believing in us and I want to make that solemn promise that in the next three years and some months, we would run an administration that will balance out any leaning and ensure that people get what they are entitled to.”
Explaining his reason for building the mosque, the governor stated it was imperative to also cater to people’s spiritual needs by building what he described as spiritual infrastructure, after his administration has embarked on a massive building of physical infrastructure by connecting all zones of the state with good roads.
He noted that his government has also been taking care of what is known as ‘stomach infrastructure’ through the infusion of billions of Naira into the economy of the state on a monthly basis by paying salaries and pensions as and when due and had also implemented policies in the education and health sectors, which have yielded positive results.
Engineer Makinde, who appreciated the Muslims in the state for standing by his administration stressed that his government took the decision to demolish and rebuild the Mosque to achieve accelerated development of the state. He commended the Muslim Community in Oyo State for its support during the March 18 governorship election, reiterating his promise to run an administration that is fair to all religions in the state.
The state’s Deputy Governor, Barr. Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal, equally lauded the governor for fulfilling his commitment, even as he appreciated the Sultan of Sokoto, who he described as the unifier
Also speaking, the Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta states, Alhaji Dawud Makanjuola Akinola, commended Governor Makinde for propagating Islam from his personal purse, charging other leaders to emulate the virtues and become source of blessings to their religions
He described the governor’s act as something that would not be forgotten in the history of Oyo State.
Akinola said: “We gather here today to celebrate this mosque, which was personally built by our amiable governor with his personal money. How are we going to recognise a Muslim? If we confer on him the Amir’mumeen of Oyo State, I think he is worth it. When you see the worth of this mosque, that an individual built from his pocket, he deserves everything.”
In his Sermon, the chief Imam of Oluyole Estate and Its environs, Shiek Mudathir Badar harped on the importance of fulfilling promises made, as it will prompt Almighty Allah to bless and also forgive one’s past, present, future. .
Also in attendance at the inauguration were the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero; a former Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed; top Islamic clerics and government functionaries in the state.
Others were the Olubadan of Ibadanland Oba Mohood Lekan Balogun, represented by Oba Hamidu Ajibade and a host of others, on Thursday came together to witness the reinvigoration of the Popular Adogba Mosque.
END
The Adogba Mosque
From left, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde; Sultan of Sokoto and President Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammed Sa’ad Abubakar; Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero and Aare Musulumi of Yourbaland, Alhaji Daud Makanjuoka Akinola, during the grand Inauguration of organization of Tadamul Muslimeen Mosque, Ibadan, rebuilt by Governor Makinde