Olayiwola Matthew
Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder and head of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Oke Afa, Lagos, has inaugurated a mosque he personally built and named after President Bola Tinubu’s late mother, Abibatu Mogaji.
The inauguration ceremony took place on Saturday during Ayodele’s annual thanksgiving event at Oke-Afa in Lagos.
The event drew dignitaries from religious, traditional, political, and entertainment circles, including Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, Tinubu’s first daughter, who sent delegates in her absence; Agbu Kefas, governor of Taraba, represented by his special adviser on Islamic matters.
Speaking at the event, Ayodele described the project as a “direct divine instruction he could not ignore”, noting that the mosque is simply a “house of worship for God”, akin to churches, and that he has no personal interest in its operations.
He handed it over to a Muslim cleric presented at the event.
“Building this mosque isn’t because I want attention or anything from anyone; it was a divine instruction that I cannot ignore,” he said.
“I am only answerable to God, so whatever anyone says doesn’t matter to me as long as God is pleased with me.”
On the naming choice, Ayodele said he initially planned a different name (Folawuyo Mosque) but changed it per “divine direction”.
He dismissed perceptions of political motives or criticism of his past stance on the APC and Tinubu, insisting the act was not for favours or appointments.
Muslim clerics at the event praised the gesture as a powerful symbol of interfaith unity.
An Islamic cleric, who opened with Christian hymns, quoted Proverbs 3:3 to commend Ayodele, saying it showed “we are one” and promised reciprocity.
The Chief Imam of Ikorodu Division’s representative described Ayodele as a true prophet sent by God, likening his name Elijah to the Quranic figure, and urged Nigerians to avoid religious fights in favour of unity.