By Astou Jawara
Nigerian High Commissioner to The Gambia, His Excellency Mohammed Manu was the guest of the city’s grand mosque named King Fahad Mosque, on Friday, where he performed the congregational prayers, after they were received by the chief Imam of Banjul, Alhajie Cherno Mass Kah and members of the Mosque Committee.
The new chief diplomat of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Banjul was accompanied by senior officials of their mission in Banjul, including Hon. Ibrahim TsSalha of Arewa Community, and Salami Enterprises Director Mr. Dauda Adewusi Osho. The delegation was ushered to the Mosque by the Bilal of King Fahad Central Mosque, Alhajie Bai S. Secka.
Meanwhile, after the Jum’ah congregational worship and subsequent introduction between the two sides, the chairman of King Fahad Central Mosque Committee, Alhagie Sulayman Samba, reminded that the former Nigerian High Commissioner to The Gambia, Mrs. Aisha Mohammed used to pray with them at King Fahad Mosque, but since she completed her diplomatic duty here, they didn’t have the opportunity to witness another diplomat like her, except with H.E. Manu’s this historic visit to the said mosque.
Samba, a former Secretary General and Head of Civil Service, described the visit as a symbol for tailoring the lost glory of the past relationships they both share with High Commissioner Manu and the Nigerian Community in The Gambia.
The Secretary General of King Fahad Central Mosque Committee, Alhagie Modou Jallow, welcomed the presence of the diplomat, while hoping for a cordial religious relationship with High Commissioner Manu and the people of Banjul.
“This will serve as a way of cementing the longtime relationship between the Republic of The Gambia and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
In his statement, H.E. Manu thanked the Mosque committee members for the kind welcome given to him and his entourage.
“I am almost seven months in the country as Nigerian High Commissioner to The Gambia, and with the kind of reception I received so far, from well-meaning Gambians, I feel like am at home,” the Nigerian chief envoy disclosed.
H.E. Manu also commended the Imam Ratib of King Fahad Central Mosque for giving him the opportunity to join the Friday congregation prayers; and promised to be visiting the Grand Mosque at his convenient time for Juma’h prayers.
At the end of the ceremony, Imam Ratib presented two Holy Qur’an Books to High Commissioner Manu, informing one is for office use and the other Holy book for home use.
