Calabar's Pastor Essien Ayi donates N1m towards the construction of a local mosque

CALABAR clergyman Pastor Essien Ayi of the Peniel Church of God has donated a sum of N1m ($2,759) to help the local Muslim community complete a mosque in the Cross River State capital saying the gesture is important as all religions serve one God.

Pastor Ayi, who is a member of the National Assembly, represents the Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar-South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. He made the cash donation at Gbogobiri, an Hausa settlement in Calabar, saying that he believed in supporting all members of his constituency, irrespective of their faith.

“Every human being whether Christian or Muslim believes in God, the creator, so the religion may be different, the mode of practicing may be different but it is tilted towards one being, which is God. Also, the Muslim society has been very supportive of me right from when I was chairman and they informed me that their former mosque had been demolished and they are trying to erect a new and befitting mosque, so I feel as a representative, they too are my constituents.

”I am bound to make a token donation towards the completion of that mosque. We should be our brothers’ keepers, as we are all Nigerians irrespective of our religion," Pastor Anyi added.

He used to occasion to call for a harmonious living environment because if we do not have a peaceful atmosphere, no one can even practice their religion. Hon Ayi called on his constituents not to fight each other, urging them to make the local environment conducive for everyone to stay in.

Sarki Lawan, the head of the local Hausa community, said: "We appreciate his concern about coming here to give us his donation and this is the first time it has ever happened. He donated N1m and we assure him the money would be put to use.

"The name of the mosque is Central Mosque and Islamic Centre in Calabar. Work started about four months ago and the money would help us a great deal, so our message to other politicians is to emulate what he has done so that the people they are representing would feel their impact."