Primate Ayodele builds mosque for Tinubu’s mother

 

Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder and spiritual head of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Oke Afa, Lagos, has unveiled a mosque he built and dedicated to Abibatu Mogaji, the late mother of President Bola Tinubu.

The mosque was inaugurated on Saturday during Ayodele’s annual thanksgiving programme held at Oke-Afa in Lagos.

The ceremony attracted guests from religious, traditional, political and entertainment circles, among them Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, the president’s first daughter, who was represented by delegates, as well as Agbu Kefas, represented by his special adviser on Islamic matters.

Addressing attendees, Ayodele described the project as a “direct divine instruction he could not ignore”, adding that the mosque is simply a “house of worship for God”, just like churches, and that he has no personal stake in its management.

He handed the mosque over to a Muslim cleric present at the event.

“Building this mosque isn’t because I want attention or anything from anyone; it was a divine instruction that I cannot ignore,” he said.

“I am only answerable to God, so whatever anyone says doesn’t matter to me as long as God is pleased with me.”

On the decision behind the mosque’s name, Ayodele said he had first intended to call it Folawuyo Mosque but later changed it following “divine direction”.

He dismissed claims of political motives or criticism over his past position on the APC and Tinubu, stressing that the gesture was not intended to secure favours or appointments.

Muslim clerics at the gathering hailed the move as a strong sign of interfaith harmony.

An Islamic cleric, who began his remarks with Christian hymns, cited Proverbs 3:3 while praising Ayodele, saying it demonstrated “we are one” and pledged reciprocity.

A representative of the chief Imam of Ikorodu Division described Ayodele as a genuine prophet sent by God, comparing his name Elijah to the Quranic figure, and urged Nigerians to shun religious conflicts in favour of unity.