Mahmoud Imam, the secretary of the Muslim community in Anambra State, disclosed on Sunday how Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s (LP) presidential candidate, constructed a mosque for Muslims.
The Imam claims that at one point, Obi sent at least 150 individuals on a pilgrimage to Mecca.
The imam highlighted that Obi has continued to help the Muslim community since his time as the governor of Anambra State during his sermon at the Central Mosque in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Sunday.
He denied the former governor’s accusations that he despises Northerners and said they disapproved of the ethnic and religious characterizations of Obi and his ambition for a New Nigeria.
Imam while speaking at the Mosque said;
We follow the news, and we are not pleased with the many negative stories people tell about Obi’s relationship with the North. We here are not only close to Obi, but we have remained the consistent beneficiaries of his benevolence. So we can say, authoritatively, that the stories making the rounds online, that Peter Obi does not care for Northerners, are false.
When our mosque was burnt down, he quickly rebuilt it for us and made it even better. During the crisis that erupted in the State in 2006, Obi ensured that no Hausa man was hurt. He gave us maximum security in the barracks. Throughout his 8 years as a Governor, he would invite us to the government house every year during the Sallah celebration, eat and celebrate with us. This time around, he decided to visit and celebrate with us in the mosque.
Many of our people here, not less than 150 were sponsored by Peter Obi to Mecca for pilgrimage, over the years. We equally watched his movements during the campaign, how he toured the Northern part of Nigeria and visited places no one expected. We are happy with our relationship with him and with the North. He is a true Nigerian.