Leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church Elijah Ayodele on Saturday commissioned a mosque he built in Oke-Afa, Lagos, naming it after late Abibatu Mogaji, mother of President Bola Tinubu.
The commissioning formed part of his annual thanksgiving held on February 14.
Among those represented at the event was the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria and daughter of the president, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo.
Agbu Kefas was represented by his Special Adviser on Islamic Matters.
Delegates of Yahaya Abubakar, member of the House of Representatives Joe Oke, Seifudeen Ayinla, Isa Olakunle, Idris Balogun, Adebayo Olasoju and the Eze Ndigbo of Ejigbo were also present.
Primate Ayodele said the mosque was built following what he described as a divine instruction and would be handed over to a Muslim cleric for administration.
He said he would not be involved in its operations.
“Building this mosque isn’t because I want attention or anything from anyone; it was a divine instruction that I cannot ignore,” he said.
“It’s a place of worship just as we have churches. I am only answerable to God.”
On naming the mosque after Tinubu’s mother, he said he initially intended to give it another name but changed it based on what he described as divine direction.
He said the decision was not influenced by politics or expectation of appointment.
Ayodele also referred to perceptions about his stance toward the president and said the naming should not be interpreted as political alignment.
A Muslim cleric invited to the event said the project reflected unity and quoted Proverbs 3:3.
“This is a sign that we are one, and we will always reciprocate. Our father loves Primate so much, and we thank God for what he has done. There is a difference between religion and character. With this act, Primate Ayodele has shown that we are one, as stated in Proverbs 3:3,” he said.
During the programme, Ayodele distributed vehicles, tricycles, minibuses, WAEC forms, accommodation support, sewing machines and household appliances to beneficiaries.
Abibatu Mogaji, a market leader, was Iyaloja of Lagos and later recognised as Iyaloja-General of Nigeria.
She was influential in market associations in Lagos before her death in 2013.
