Vice President Kashim Shettima has commissioned the Jumu’at Mosque worth about N570 million built by the Muslim Ummah in the National Assembly.
Shettima, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the commissioning yesterday, said he was at the commissioning to felicitate with members of the Muslim Ummah in the National Assembly.
He called on leaders to act with humility as they discharge their responsibilities while in positions of authority and seek their hereafter through similar projects and charity.
Shettima said they should also be mindful of the transient power and life as they must one day leave their positions and the world.
“50 years from now, many people will not be alive. We should act with humility, power and wealth are gifts from Allah,” he said.
He commended all those involved in many ways towards the completion of the project.
The chairman, National Assembly Mosque Project Management Committee, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, said the idea to build the mosque started in 2021 when the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives set up the committee comprising four senators, 10 members of the House of Representatives and three members from NASS management to build a bigger mosque for Muslims as the one being used was too small for the Muslim community praying in the National Assembly.
“We had our first meeting on September 22, 2021. After the committee’s meeting, a general meeting of all Muslim legislators was called and that was when the legislators were called and that was when the legislators converted an ordinary muted idea into a concrete reality.
“All 227 of us agreed to bear the brunt of the project, and within eight months of this agreement, we had contributed well over N570million. The magnificent state-of-the-art edifice you are about to commission is the result of the moral and financial commitment of Muslim members of the 9th session and Muslim staff of the National Assembly.
“Apart from earning Allah’s pleasure, these lawmakers have set the pace and made history by providing what is long overdue to the Muslim members of this huge legislative community. Arguably, this is the first mosque built in the 42 years existence of the National Assembly,” he said.
Sultan of Sokoto, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, commended all the people that made contributions to build the mosque saying it was Allah’s will that chose members of the 9th Assembly to do it, because it would have been made earlier.
Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, said they were opportune to make history and provide a lasting legacy with huge rewards in the hereafter.
“We consider ourselves very lucky for choosing us to make this mosque a reality. Before we came here, the Waziri of Kano said even if the mosque was demolished for a hundred years, the initial investors would continue to receive dividends,” he said.
Lawan said Muslim senators contributed N400,000 monthly while members of the House of Representatives contributed N250 per month as the project lasted.
The Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said the building of the Mosque was a sacrifice in Allah’s way and does not require anybody’s commendation as one is only looking for infinite reward from Allah.
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