‘Abuja indigenes are with you’ — group rejects call for Wike’s resignation as FCT minister

A group known as the Nigerian Patriotic Forum has kicked against the call for the removal of Nyesom Wike as the minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), Abuja.

On Tuesday, the Network of Civil Societies for Economic Sustainability asked Wike to resign from his position.

Among several allegations, the group accused Wike of being controversial in his actions and turning a blind eye to the plight of FCT residents.

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja, Aliyu Sani, chairman of the group, who led some protesters to the national assembly, said the Network of Civil Societies for Economic Sustainability claims were based on “falsehood”.

“Nothing can be further from the truth, than this well-rehearsed and repeated falsehood,” he said.

Addressing land-grabbing allegations against the minister, Sani said Wike has stated his resolve to ensure that all title owners revalidate their certificate of occupancy with new security features which include the introduction of  the national identity number (NIN) for individuals and bank verification number (BVN) for corporate bodies.

“It is in the public domain that since the coming of Wike as FCT minister he has been able to liaise with the Corporate Affairs Commission, wherein they uncovered 189 fake companies that have been used to secure the allocation of choice lands in the federal capital,” he said.

“This discovery has led to the arrest, detention and ongoing prosecution of two perpetrators of this crime.”

“It is normal for corrupt individuals and land grabbers to sacrifice everything they have acquired to frustrate this laudable initiative.

“We won’t be surprised if they further reinforce to cause anarchy in the city capital so as to derail this policy.”

He added that Wike is also tackling the security and transportation challenges in the nation’s capital head-on by announcing plans to roll out buses and taxis.

Sani said the group who raised “weighty allegations” against Wike’s administration lack of accountability “failed” to provide evidence.

“The Nigerian Patriotic Forum wish to therefore pass a vote of confidence on his excellency Nyesom Wike for the successes recorded so far,” Sani said.

“The Abuja original inhabitants are with him. They will stand by him and we are ever ready to come out to counter any protest aimed at tarnishing the hard-earned reputation of Wike, thereby dwindling his renewed vigour towards revitalising the nation capital.”