Biggest statue of JESUS in Nigeria?

A Nigerian businessman is set to unveil
what he says is Africa's largest statue of Jesus,
describing it as a symbol of peace in a country
wracked by Islamist insurgency.
Obinna Onuoha commissioned the 8.53 metre (28
foot) 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
ton statue will tower over St. Aloysius Catholic
Church in the mainly Christian village of Abajah in
Imo.
"It's going to be the biggest statue of Jesus on the
continent," said Onuoha, the 43-year-old chief
executive officer of an oil and gas distribution
company.
"Definitely pilgrims will come."
Around 1,000 people are expected to attend the
statue's unveiling on New Year's Day.

Onuoha said he has contacted the police just to be
sure that it is not attacked or vandalised.
"We think religions can exist side by side," Onuoha
said. "We hope that people can live in harmony."
Onuoha says he had a dream in 1997 to build a
giant statue of Jesus.
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 built it in Abajah, some 500 kilometres
southeast of Lagos, and it is here that the "Jesus
de Greatest" statue is located.
Reactions to the statue are mixed.
"It is clearly wrong," Emmanuel Lashiolola, a
Catholic and former student in a seminary school,
said.
"You do not unveil Jesus Christ. I hope somebody
is not trying to use the ceremony to raise money."
But priest Paul Awowole said: "Liturgically, I do not
think there is anything is wrong in unveiling the
statue of Jesus Christ. It is to venerate and honour
Jesus Christ."
Onuoha is just counting down the days until the
statue makes its official public debut.
"The scaffolding is coming off as we speak,"
Onuoha said. "People driving by are already
stopping to have a look."