IMO State businessman Obinna Onuoha plans to unveil Africa’s largest statue of Jesus Christ tomorrow that will stand at about 28 feet tall describing it as a symbol of peace in a country wracked by Islamist insurgency. 

A chief executive of an oil and gas distribution company, Mr Onuoha, 43, commissioned the 8.53 metre tall Jesus de Greatest statue in 2013, hiring a Chinese company to carve it out of white marble. Standing barefoot with arms outstretched, the 40 tonne statue will tower over St Aloysius Catholic Church in the mainly Christian village of Abajah in his native Imo State. 

 Mr Onuoha said: “It’s going to be the biggest statue of Jesus on the continent and definitely pilgrims will come. We think religions can exist side by side and we hope that people can live in harmony.” 

Around 1,000 people are expected to attend the statue’s unveiling on New Year’s Day and already, Mr Onuoha said he has contacted the police just to be sure that it is not attacked or vandalised. He added that he had a dream in 1997 to build a giant statue of Jesus and when his 68-year-old mother fell seriously ill a few years ago, she made him promise that he would build a church if she survived. 

He subsequently decided to build the monument in Abajah. However, there have been mixed reactions have been trailing the erection of the statue.

Emmanuel Lashiolola, a Catholic and former student in a seminary school, said: “It is clearly wrong as you do not unveil Jesus Christ. I hope somebody is not trying to use the ceremony to raise money.” 

However, priest Paul Awowole added: “Liturgically, I do not think there is anything wrong in unveiling the statue of Jesus Christ. It is to venerate and honour Jesus Christ.”