Primate Ayodele builds mosque in honour of Tinubu’s mother, says it’s ‘divine instruction’

Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder and head of INRI EvangelicalSpiritual Church, Oke Afa, Lagos, has inaugurated a mosque he personally builtand named after President Bola Tinubu’s late mother, Abibatu Mogaji. The commissioning ceremony took place on Saturday duringAyodele’s annual thanksgiving event at Oke-Afa in Lagos. The event drew dignitaries from religious, traditional,political, and entertainment circles, including Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, Tinubu’sfirst daughter, who sent delegates in her absence; Agbu Kefas, governor ofTaraba, represented by his special adviser on Islamic matters. Speaking at the event, Ayodele described the project as a“direct divine instruction he could not ignore”, noting that the mosque issimply a “house of worship for God”, akin to churches, and that he has nopersonal interest in its operations. He handed it over to a Muslim cleric presented at the event. “Building this mosque isn’t because I want attention oranything from anyone; it was a divine instruction that I cannot ignore,” hesaid. “I am only answerable to God, so whatever anyone saysdoesn’t matter to me as long as God is pleased with me.” On the naming choice, Ayodele said he initially planned adifferent name (Folawuyo Mosque) but changed it per “divine direction”. He dismissed perceptions of political motives or criticismof his past stance on the APC and Tinubu, insisting the act was not for favoursor appointments. Muslim clerics at the event praised the gesture as apowerful symbol of interfaith unity. An Islamic cleric, who opened with Christian hymns, quotedProverbs 3:3 to commend Ayodele, saying it showed “we are one” and promisedreciprocity. The chief Imam of Ikorodu Division’s representativedescribed Ayodele as a true prophet sent by God, likening his name Elijah tothe Quranic figure, and urged Nigerians to avoid religious fights in favour ofunity.

Read More