Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike yesterday debunked reports that his administration is promoting policies that negate Islamic religious tenets.
He said those attempting to whip up religious sentiments had a mischievous agenda to score some cheap political points.
Wike said this when he hosted members of the Abuja National Mosque Management Committee, led by its Chairman, the Etsu of Nupe, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar.
The minister assured his visitors that he had no reason to instigate hate speech against any religious groups as he always supported any with a genuine cause.
He said the FCT would not hesitate to support the maintenance of the National Mosque or the National Ecumenical Centre, having been declared a national monument.
Wike urged religious leaders to preach national unity and peaceful coexistence, saying;
“No government will hesitate to support the maintenance of a National Monument, be it for Christians or Muslims.
“The Emir of Sokoto is one person I have high regards for. I don’t just see him as an elder brother but like a father.
“Anything that has to do with the National Mosque, where he is the President, I will always give it support.
“You said (former President Olusegun) Obasanjo lunched the appeal fund for the support of the renovation of the National Mosque. We have a role to ensure that worship centres are well taken care of.
“We are not targeting any religious group or ethnicity. We are doing what we can for the good of all FCT residents and Nigerians at large.
“Don’t allow politicians who do not have the capacity to face me in any way to use religion as a weapon against me.”
Reacting to an allegation that he was planning to stop cows from grazing in Abuja, he said: “Cows should not feed in the city centre where there are only flowers but outside the city centre where you have grasses to eat.
“I am here as the Minister of the FCT for everybody – religious groups and ethnicities. We may not like change but change is inevitable,” he said.
Wike gave the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Shehu Ahmed Hadi, 24 hours to give the position of the National Mosque.
The Etsu Nupe urged the minister to support the maintenance of the mosque, which he said had been stalled for some time.
He also pleaded with Wike to give the committee more time to develop the plots of land allocated to it by FCTA.