Lagos Assembly calms protesters over planned demolition of mosque

The Custodian April 12, 2014

The Lagos State House of Assembly has promised to intervene in the planned demolition of the Ifelodun Central Mosque in Demurin area of Agboyi Ketu.

Mr Bisi Yusuf (APC-Alimosho I) made the promise to protesters who stormed the House over the matter on Friday in Alausa, Ikeja.

The protesters, led by the Chief Imam of the mosque, Murtado Oloke, said the mosque had been earmarked for demolition by the Agboyi Ketu Local Council Development Authority (LCDA).

 Yusuf, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Transportation, Commerce and Industry, urged the protesters not to allow hoodlums to hijack the protest.

The lawmaker said that the House would find urgent solution to the matter.

“We thank you for the peaceful protest.

“Islam is not a religion of violence. We are a House that is above common standard of excellence.

“All what you wrote in the petition would be addressed.

“Don’t allow hoodlums to hijack the protest from you, but we will still invite you on the matter soon,” he said.

Oloke appealed to the state government to prevent the authority from demolishing the mosque.

“Hitherto, part of the mosque was demolished by the state government when the fire that engulfed the Ifelodun Plank Market that affected a section of the mosque.

“The Lagos State Government had ordered a Material Testing of the mosque, which had been done before the rebuilding of the mosque is carried out.

“A copy of the test is with LASEMA and the mosque had won cases concerning the mosque location up to the Appeal Court,” Oloke said. (NAN)