The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has again faced criticisms over his widespread “suspicious revocation of land allocations, particularly to please family and friends of influential people.”
The Conference of Civil Society for Transparency and Accountability called for President Bola Tinubu’s intervention, seeking the establishment of an independent panel to review Wike’s excesses.
This is in the light of the FCT minister’s recent clash with a naval officer, Lt. A.M. Yerima, over a land dispute in Gaduwa, Abuja.
In a statement issued on Saturday by its National Director of Communication & Advocacy, Comrade Haruna Abdulsalam, the group described Wike’s conduct as “unacceptable” and “disrespectful” to the military authorities who, it said, have made enormous sacrifices to safeguard the nation.
According to the civil society, public officials are appointed to promote the administration’s image and uphold the rule of law, not to “harass or intimidate those performing their constitutional duties.”
The group also called on the President to institute “a transparent and independent panel” to investigate what it described as the widespread conversion of green areas in the FCT into private residential estates, hotels, and shopping plazas.
“We urgently call on the President to establish a transparent and independent panel to investigate the alleged conversion of hundreds of green areas in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) into residential estates, hotels, and shopping plazas,” the group stated.
The COCTA further urged the panel to probe alleged irregularities in land allocations, including “the suspicious revocation of land allocations, particularly those benefiting family and friends of influential individuals, as well as the sale of public lands earmarked for hospitals and other essential public services to private entities.”
“These lands were usually sold in billions, paid in cash with foreign currency,” the group alleged, adding that it possesses “documented evidence of these malpractices, including petitions and records of revoked land allocations.”
COCTA demands replacement of Nyesom Wike with another Rivers State APC chieftain, Engineer Tein T.S. Jack-Rich,
According to the CSO Jack-Rich is a distinguished son of Rivers State and proud member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and possesses the requisite credentials to assume the role of FCT Minister. His remarkable track record of service, coupled with his deep understanding of community, urban development and public service, he has also demonstrated a deep understanding of the masses’ needs, providing support in education, healthcare, and empowerment. this qualifies positions him as a strong contender for this critical position
The group maintained that accountability was necessary to protect the FCT’s green spaces and ensure that public assets are preserved for the benefit of all citizens.
“We demand accountability, transparency, and justice in the management of FCT’s resources, and we will continue to advocate for the rights of Nigerians to a sustainable and equitable urban environment,” the group added.
