Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Friday, said that the state will reconstruct the popular Iwo Road interchange in Ibadan, the state capital within the next nine to eleven months.
Governor Makinde, who stated this after joining Muslim faithful to observe the Jumat service at the Adogba Mosque in Iwo Road, reiterated th commitment of his administration to infrastructural development of the state.
Makinde said his government would restore the lost glory of Ibadan, the capital of the old Western Region.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, said that Governor Makinde used the occasion to inform the Muslim faithful at the mosque that the government had decided to remove the mosque to pave way for the construction of a befitting interchange that would positively affect traffic in Ibadan.
The governor said that a church, which is close to Adogba Mosque, would also be demolished, while giving the assurance that the state government would build a better structure to replace the demolished Mosque.
He also told the congregation that his government was not putting one religion ahead of the other, pointing out that he could not discriminate against Muslims because his family was made up of close to 60 percent Muslim, while his grandfather was a Muslim.
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Makinde noted that four out of the first six persons in the topmost hierarchy of government in the State were Muslims, adding: “There are varied reports in the public suggesting that Seyi Makinde does not like Muslims, but I can tell you that the Makinde whose name I bear today is a Muslim. Whatever I do against those practising Islam, I do it against myself, because 60 per cent of my family members are Muslims.
“If we also take a look at the current administration in Oyo State, you would realise that out of six top government functionaries in the highest cadre, you will find four muslims and two Christians. The Governor is a Christian; the Deputy Governor is a Muslim; the Secretary to the State Government is a Christian; the Chief of Staff is a Muslim; the Head of Service is a Muslim; the Deputy Chief of Staff is a Muslim.
“So, when they feed you with lies outside that I love one religion more than the other, tell them it is totally false and what is important for all of us is to make heaven. It is the work of our hands, attitude and how well we serve God that will determine if we would make heaven or not.”
He stated further that the State Government had made provision for a new land for the building of a befitting mosque for Adogba Mosque, while promising to put down money personally to spearhead the construction of the new Mosque.
He said: “The main reason I decided to come here is, there are reports that the State Government wants to demolish the Adogba Mosque. Yes, it is true. The church that is close to this mosque will equally be demolished but I want it to be on record that, first, I worship in the mosque today. Second, what we want to do to this mosque can be likened to the popular saying that suggests that the palace of a king that gets destroyed can only get beautiful later.
“I make bold to tell you that we won’t demolish it and not rebuild a better mosque. They have looked for another land that is close to where we are and I will ensure that I donate personal money to begin the building of the new Adogba Mosque. I built a mosque at Omituntun House. The new mosque will be twice bigger in terms of size than this current one and will be a reference point. We will have a meeting with those that are running the mosque to see how we can achieve this.
“Also, we will try and cushion the effect of the demolition for those who trade around the mosque and may be badly affected by our action. We don’t want to run a government that will demolish and not compensate or make plans for those who may be affected.”
The governor, therefore, appealed to the Muslim faithful not to allow anybody to divide Oyo State people along religious lines.
He also urged them to support the decision of the government for the overall development of the State.
Governor Makinde attended the Jumat service alongside his deputy, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan; the Chief of Staff, Chief Luqman Bisi Ilaka, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr AbdulMojeed Mogbonjubola; Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Rahman Abdukareem and the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Ademola Ajibola, among top civil servants in the State.