The governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike has debunked reports that the government demolished a mosque in Port Harcourt,the state capital.
Wike who addressed journalists on Monday at the purported location of the mosque on Biambo street off school road by Mami market junction said the report was the handiwork of mischief makers.
“I received calls from several prominent Nigerians on the fake news being circulated online. I have come here with reporters and you can see there is no mosque here.
“It is most unfortunate that fickle minded persons will claim that a mosque was demolished in this place, when no mosque existed here.
“The story was concocted by mischief-makers to score cheap points” he said.
The governor explained that some people wanted to erect a structure on the land without approval.
He said, “They came here to erect illegal structure. There was no approval from the state. government for any structure to be erected here.
“The persons who started the foundation had already dragged the state government to court on the disputed land.
“Rivers State government won the case. What they attempted to do was to start the illegal construction to tie the hands of the government.”
Explaining further, “The government gave them notice not to do anything on the land. But they went ahead with the illegal foundation and the relevant agency stopped them.
“Why should we demolish any mosque, when there are other mosques across the state? What is the special interest on this one?” he added.