Tinubu commissions NASS Central Mosque, urges Muslims on humility
President Bola Tinubu, on Friday, commissioned the National Assembly Central Mosque and urged the Muslim faithful to exhibit humility in their daily lives.
Tinubu, who was represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, emphasized the fleeting nature of life and called upon the Ummah to “walk the earth with humility.”
“Half a century from now, most of the Assembly members will no longer be here, and only a few will remember our existence. Therefore, we should strive for humility in our actions and be kind to one another,” Tinubu stated.
He expressed gratitude for the contributions made by the Muslim Ummah in the National Assembly towards the construction of the mosque and acknowledged the crucial role played by the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
“I recognize their contributions, as without their consent, the construction plans for this mosque would not have been realized,” Tinubu remarked.
The Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Sa’ad Abubakar III, also extended his felicitations to the Muslims on the successful completion of the mosque.
Represented by the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, the Sultan thanked the leaders, senators, and members of the House of Representatives for their contributions.
“It is undoubtedly Allah’s will that the 9th National Assembly has accomplished this great work. We thank Allah for granting them the opportunity to build the mosque. We pray that Allah will reward them as promised to those who contribute to the construction of a mosque,” the Sultan stated.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan expressed his gratitude for being part of the realization of the mosque and emphasized its enduring significance.
“We consider ourselves fortunate that God has chosen us to bring this mosque into existence. This is an investment that will continue to yield dividends even after we have departed this world. May Allah continue to give us the opportunity to serve Him and humanity,” Lawan said.
He also highlighted the benefits of having the mosque within the National Assembly, as it would provide a conducive environment for prayers and enhance the productivity of staff.
“The maintenance of the mosque should be our responsibility. The next assembly should continue this tradition, as it is our duty to uphold it,” Lawan added.
Sen. Ibrahim Shekarau, Chairman of the Mosque Construction Committee, shared that the idea for the new National Assembly Mosque originated in 2021 when a joint leadership committee was established to explore the possibility of providing a permanent and more suitable mosque.
“All 227 of us agreed to contribute to the project, and within eight months, we had raised over N570 million. Apart from earning Allah’s pleasure, these lawmakers have set a historic precedent by fulfilling the long-overdue need for a mosque for the Muslim members of this legislative community. Arguably, this is the first mosque built in the 42-year existence of the National Assembly,” Shekarau explained.
Clerk of the National Assembly, Sani Tambuwal, added that the establishment of a Jumm’at mosque became necessary due to the demanding nature of legislative work, making it challenging for parliamentarians and staff to attend prayers outside the assembly.
“The mosque is now a great relief for all,” Tambuwal concluded.
NAN