By Patience David Danboyi
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas and Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Uba Sani were some of the prominent dignitaries who witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony of the reconstruction of the Mallam AbdulKarim historical mosque, Zaria on Sunday.
The well attended event brought together top government functionaries including the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, former Governor of Kaduna State, Ramalan Yero and serving members of the National Assembly among others.
Built in 1836, the ancient mosque collapsed on August 11, 2023 while worshippers were praying in it, leading to loss of about six persons and injuries to others.
Speaking at the event, Speaker Abbas highlighted the significance of the ancient mosque and the need to reconstruct it.
“Today is a day of history, a history that generations and generations have not witnessed before because this is a moment when for the second time in 183 years, Zaria will witness the groundbreaking ceremony of a mosque that is supposed to serve the entire Muslim Ummah of the Zazzau Emirate.
“Today is a day when the entire people of Zazzau Emirate, Kaduna State and Nigeria will reflect over the development of Zazzau from its inception in 1804 when Usman Danfodio passed the flag of Zaria to Mallam Musa and his able lieutenants, Mallam Yamusa, Mallam Abdulkarim and Mallam Abdulsalam.
“This mosque when completed will probably be the largest mosque in Northern part of Nigeria. Some are even saying that it will be one of the biggest and largest mosques in West Africa as a whole. So this is something that is worth celebrating, something that is worth mentioning.
“But there is a challenge and that is why we are starting the project today. The project has a completion period of about 18 months but we cannot go far unless and until we are able to generate enough funds to be able to complete it.”
Speaker Abbas who holds the traditional title of Iyan Zazzau while thanking Nigerians who have responded to the calls for assistance in the reconstruction project, added that what has so far be generated is only half the total cost of the entire edifice.
“I am privileged to know that what we have can only take us up to about 50-60% of the project cost. So, I want to lend my voice in imploring our Good Samaritans, the rich people among us to please donate generously in ensuring that we have enough funds to be able to finish this project in record time,” he stressed.
Similarly, Governor Sani appreciated well-meaning Nigerians who have so far donated to fund the project, particularly billionaire businessman, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, among others.
He said, “The speed and manner in which people responded is a testament to the high esteem in which this great monument is held and the place of religion in our personal and national life.
“I would like to call on the good people of Zaria and Nigeria to please contribute generously to the reconstruction of this very important mosque.”
Earlier in his remark, the Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Bamali, thanked former Vice President, Namadi Sambo and immediate past Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai who chaired the technical committee and the fundraising committee respectively for their role in ensuring the commencement of the reconstruction of the mosque.
He said, “Today marks a significant moment as we gather to honour the memories of those we lost and take steps to ensure the very foundations of our society endure.
“I extend my deepest appreciation to Governor Uba Sani, who has been exceptional in his support since day one. He provided financial assistance to victims of the tragedy, compensated owners of affected buildings, and ensured the provision of access roads.
“His commitment has made a significant difference in actualising our desire to begin this reconstruction.
That said, the Royal Father stated that the decision to pull down the ancient mosque was one taken in public interest.
“It was a painful but necessary decision to pull down the previous structure to save lives. Experts confirmed that repairing the old structure would not have been sufficient as it collapsed twice after the first incident.
“This mosque will once again become a sanctuary for prayer and reflection, embodying the rich history of Zazzau while embracing the advancements of our time.
“Today is historic, as it has been 183 years since the original structure was built. None of us, not even our fathers or grandfathers, witnessed its construction,” he added.
