SENATE URGES WIKE TO STOP DEMOLITIONS IN FCT

The Senate has urged the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to stop the demolition of structures except those authorised by the court. 

The upper chamber also constituted an eight-member panel chaired by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, to probe the demolitions since the beginning of Wike’s administration. 

The resolution was followed by a motion sponsored by the Senator representing the FCT, Ireti Kingibe, during plenary. 

Kingibe, in her motion, complained that the demolition of buildings since the beginning of Wike’s administration was not in line with court processes. 

The Senator also said the demolition has increased hardship among residents of the federal capital territory because many people have been rendered homeless. 

She specifically cited the revocation of an estate around the Life Camp area of Abuja owned by the late Paul Osa Ogbebor, a colonel. 

Kingibe urged the red chamber to compel the Federal Capital Territory administration to suspend the revocation of the estate and also requested the suspension of all ongoing demolition of buildings in the FCT area. 

The Senator representing Kogi Central senatorial district, Natasha Apoti-Uduaghan, seconded Kingibe’s motion. 

Apoti-Uduaghan asked the Senate to direct Wike to stop the demolition of structures in FCT and also constitute an ad hoc committee to probe the demolitions. 

However, the Kogi West Senator, Karmi Sunday, stressed the need for the Senate to hear from the FCT Minister before taking any decision on the issue. 

The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Oyelola Ashiru, said his colleagues did not have the right to stop Wike from bringing down buildings in the FCT. 

“We cannot stop the minister from doing his work. He is cleaning the city,” he said. 

Senate President Godswill Akpabio said some of the buildings had been authorised by the court for demolition because they were illegal structures. 

Akpabio said, “Some of the demolitions have been authorised by the court. If somebody built on the drainage and the court ordered that such buildings should be demolished, you cannot come up with a resolution to stop the order.” 

Akpabio also called on his colleagues not to be emotional about the demolition of buildings in the FCT but to look at the reasons for the demolitions. 

“Let us try not to be emotional with issues,” he added. 

After a robust deliberation, the Senate President put the motion to vote and the majority of the senators supported it. 

Akpabio subsequently asked the FCT minister to suspend the ongoing demolition of buildings in Abuja except those authorised by the court for demolition. 

He also constituted an ad hoc committee to liaise with the FCT administration over the issue. 

Apart from Jibrin, who chaired the committee, other members of the committee are Sahabi Ya’u (PDP, Zamfara North), Victor Umeh (LP, Anambra Central), Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South), Oyelola Ashiru (APC,  Kwara South), Agom Jaribe (PDP,  Cross-River North), Mohammed Munguno (APC, Borno North) and Idiat Adebule (APC, Lagos West). 

Meanwhile, Kingibe had earlier staged a walkout when she was prevented from presenting her motion. 

Akpabio then directed the Abia Central Senator, Augustine Akobondu and Lagos West Senator, Idiat Adebule to inform Kingibe to return to the chamber for her motion to be addressed. 

After about five minutes, Kingibe walked into the chamber. 

The Senate President, however, ordered her to apologise to other senators for walking out angrily on them when the issue was still under consideration. 

Kingibe initially refused to apologise but later bowed to pressure after the Senate President insisted on her apology.