Northern Youths side with Wike, claim reports of demolished mosque false, intended to stir political tension

A group, under the aegis of Coalition of Northern Youths, have described as false and misleading, claims that RIvers State governor, Nyesom Wike demolished a mosque at the Trans-Amadi area of Port Harcourt.

The convener of the group, Mohammed Sani addressing a press conference in Kaduna on Tuesday said the demolition of mosque story was a mere plot by some people to draw a religious rage, stir political tension and widen the chasm of national division.

Wike was said to have ordered the demolition of the mosque; an allegation the governor had since denied.

Speaking at the press conference Sani said, “Coalition of Northern Youth Groups has observed with patriotic disenchantment the worrisome trend of some politicians capitalising 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.

“The recent wild rumour 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.

“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.

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“On further interaction with residents and the Muslim community in the area, we gathered that the said location being labelled as a mosque building belongs to an individual who was building his personal structure without government approval.”

Many northern politicians, including Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, had attacked Wike over the alleged demolition.

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