Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), yesterday paid a visit to the members of the Muslim and Hausa community in a mosque in Awka, Anambra State capital.
Addressing the Muslim community in the state, Obi said his visit was to felicitate with the Muslim faithful on the occasion of Eid al-Fitri, stressing that it has nothing to do with politics.
Obi, a former governor of the state, also donated some food items, including cartons of noodles, bags of rice and soft drinks.
He also promised to support the rebuilding of the mosque, which was undergoing a facelift.
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“I thank you for inviting me to the mosque to celebrate with you. You wanted to come to my house instead, but I said it will be better for me to come and now that I have come, I have also seen that the mosque is undergoing reconstruction.
“I want to pledge that I shall contribute to the work you have at hand to ensure that you have a befitting place of worship.
“I am a Christian and you are Muslims, but we are all Nigerians, and Nigeria is one. It is only politics that divides us.
“But let me tell you, I have never seen any road that is built and it is only for Muslims to drive on. I have also not seen any market where Christians buy bread cheaper than Muslims. If you know such a market, please tell me, let me go and buy.
“If you go to Dubai, the land on which one of the biggest churches is built was donated by the ruler of Dubai. In England too, a mosque was donated by the queen, who is the head of the Church of England.
“We are one and we are created by the same God. Only religion is dividing us, but we should not let religion or politics to divide us. Nigeria will continue to be one, irrespective of politics.”
Speaking with journalists, Obi said he had not taken a rest after the presidential poll because no serious leader would go on vacation with the way things were going on in Nigeria.
Earlier, the leader of the Muslim community in Awka, Alhaji Musa Bello, who spoke on behalf of the community, said Obi is the only person that has consistently visited them.
“I was among the Muslims you sponsored to Saudi Arabia during your tenure. You did not know me before you did it. You are a lover of all men, and you have been very beneficial to mankind” he said.
