The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has made it clear that no amount of blackmail will stop his ongoing demolition of illegal structures in Abuja.
This bold stance comes despite calls from the Senate for him to pause all demolitions, except those backed by a court order.
Speaking on Thursday, Wike did not mince words about his commitment to reclaiming government lands, regardless of opposition.
“We are not afraid of blackmail,” Wike said firmly. “There are so many land grabbers. Some of us have come to put our feet down. Let heaven fall. It is even better that heaven comes down now so that we would not be fasting again to go to heaven.”
He added, “We will stop anybody who thinks he can obtain government land for whatever reason without formal approval. We will not look at your face. If you like, you can be a civil rights activist; if you like, you can be a television talker. What is wrong is wrong.”
In recent months, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), under Wike’s directive, has intensified the demolition of “illegally” constructed estates and shanties across Abuja.
The Minister argue that some of these structures pose serious security risks to the capital city.
However, the Senate is pushing back. Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the FCT, sponsored a motion for Wike to suspend the demolitions except for those with court orders.
The Senate also set up a committee led by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin to investigate the exercise and summon Wike for questioning as the demolitions have displaced many residents.
For now, Wike remains unyielding, saying, “No amount of blackmail can stop us.”
The coming days will reveal whether the Senate’s intervention will bring about a pause in the exercise or if the Minister’s determination will prevail.
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