A Nigerian constitutional lawyer, Tope Temokun, has condemned the threats made by the new Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyeson Wike to demolish illegal structures in the capital city.
Temokun described the demolition threats as “anti-people and wicked,” questioning if the Nigerian citizens are enjoying their original master plan under this government.
“Citizens’ original master plan was not to be subjected to this kind of hardship, pain, and agony,” he said.
Wike, a former Rivers governor, vowed to demolish structures that are at variance with the master plan of the capital city after he was sworn in on Monday as a minister in President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
Wike threatened that houses built at illegal locations in Abuja to distort the city’s master plan would be demolished irrespective of the position of its owner.
“All those people who are distorting the masterplan of Abuja, too bad. If you know you have built where you are not supposed to build, it will go down,” Wike said.
But in reaction to Wike’s comment, Temokun, a constitutional lawyer, in a statement, titled: “Wike: Restoration Of The FCT Master Plan Through Demolition Is Not A Priority!” said the destruction of Abuja’s low-cost buildings would create more land for the elite to grab.
He reminded Wike that the new government of his principal, Tinubu was still carrying the moral burden of explaining to the Nigerian people how they got to their current position in less than three months as a result of fuel subsidy removal.
He said, “The first question to ask is are Nigerian citizens enjoying their original masterplan under this government? Citizens’ original master plan was not to be subjected to this kind of hardship, pain, and agony.
“This new government is still carrying the moral burden of explaining to the people of Nigeria how we found ourselves within a few weeks of assumption of office paying higher fuel prices in the name of subsidy removal and how
the bags of rice sent to each state will solve the problems created by this government for the people through subsidy politicization.
“When you demolish houses of citizens on the pretext that you want to restore the capital to the original masterplan, what one single positive thing do you want to give to the poor citizens in this elitist government, the government of the elites by the elites, and for the elites.
“Demolition, however, you may glorify it, is anti-people and wicked. This elitist psychology has formed 50% of government policy of Lagos since the era of Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos till now and it is the same policy President Bola Tinubu is attempting to introduce to Abuja now in the name of restoring Abuja to the original masterplan. It is nothing but pure land grabbing.”
He added, “The destruction of Abuja’s low-cost buildings to create more land for grabs should not be a priority for now. In an advanced economy, demolition is not a policy toward development. Beautification will come with development. Old houses will give way to new ones.
“Instead of picking demolition as a policy, the government and Wike should be creative and positive-minded to face the reality of whatever present masterplan and leave alone the original masterplan to avoid more pain for the people. Restore the citizen’s hope in your government to the master plan before you think of restoring FCT to the original master plan.”
