Concerned FCT residents, CSOs drag Wike over land administration, AGIS

Concerned FCT residents, CSOs drag Wike over land administration, AGIS

JOEL OLADELE, Abuja

A group of Concerned FCT Residents, alongside representatives from 65 Civil Society Organizations, have voiced their escalating concerns regarding the administration of land and governance under the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.

Delivering a speech titled “As Rivers, is Wike also turning FCTA into his property?” at a press conference held on Friday, the Convener of the Concerned FCT Residents, Alhaji Hussaini Abubakar Agare, highlighted allegations of corruption and the undermining of established land administration systems.

Agare articulated that after eight years as Governor of Rivers State, Wike appears to be suffering from a “power hangover.” He noted, “After 8 years in office, Wike is still suffering from a power hung-over that deludes him into thinking that Rivers State must answer to his whims and caprices. 

“But the delusion that does not recognize an obvious change in power relations—where a godson, even if by your own agency, has now also become all too powerful—leaves everyone wondering if the situation is not even worse.

“Wike is busying himself with what is absolutely not his business. He should instead concentrate on his job as the minister of the FCT, where his attention is truly needed.”

The speech elaborated on fears that Wike’s aggressive maneuvers could potentially dismantle the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS), a platform designed to enhance transparency and accountability in land administration.

 “His (Wike) underlying urge for self-idolization is taking over his faculties, such that, if not immediately addressed, by the time he is done with his term in office in the FCT, it is most likely that he will have successfully taken us back to where we were 20 years ago.

“It seems for Wike, anything that isn’t him, is not too good and as such has to be taken down. It is for this that Wike is, for instance, bent on taking us back to pre-AGIS days in land administration which is fraught with high-level corruption, mismanagement and waste of resources. 

“To put this plainly, Wike is bringing down the roof of AGIS in order to perfect his individual control and dominance over land in the FCT, as he had done while in Rivers,” he asserted

“You either help him to entrench his dominion or you are out of play.” The recent removal of the Director of Urban and Regional Planning was cited as evidence of Wike’s efforts to eliminate internal resistance to his agenda.

Highlighting the necessity of AGIS amidst the complexities of land disputes in an expanding Abuja, Agare emphasized; “Why did we introduce the Geographic Information Systems and Land Information System in the first place, which gave birth to the Abuja Geographic Information Systems, AGIS? Wike cannot claim to be unaware of the reasons. Abuja is rapidly expanding because of population movement and this has further made the land business very intricate, if big.

“The market is prone to fraud, manipulation and a lot of crisis, bred by highly entrenched businessmen in cahoots with officials in the FCTA and FCDA. Out of these crises, individuals lose their lands or fortunes and the government loses revenue. With AGIS, human participation in the process is limited and most especially, with clear traceability and accountability of every action taken.

“As a governor, who, what’s more, has a legal background, he knows that the more human participation in land administration, the greater it is susceptible to manipulation. Like everything, AGIS is not perfect but it offers a lot that minimizes the traditional challenges in the sector. For someone who knows this much, and still chooses to go ahead with it, the motive is not far fetched.”

The Convener also accused Wike of promoting his allies into crucial positions, citing the recent appointment of Chijoke Nwanko Eze as FCDA director of land. “Eze, who had previously faced allegations related to land allocations, is now positioned to assist Wike in implementing an agenda that many of us find questionable.

“There is also every indication that those working in AGIS will be shipped out because the agency will be going down completely, to be replaced by his men who would help erect the stand of his emperor’s stool.

“The fear is that, behind this veiled move, there may be an agenda to uproot Northerners and Muslims in the system. And this is not out of place to assume. Wike has a well-known precedent of doing this. When he was governor, he declared that Rivers is unapologetically a Christian state. Such a person cannot be expected to handle our diversity well because of his credentials as a crooked provincialist,” he alleged.

The implications of Wike’s administration extend beyond land management, as the group highlighted deteriorating conditions in public services in Abuja, notably education and healthcare.

“Those in Abuja wonder what is the rationale behind some of the rigors the man is bringing to rehabilitation of roads that are already in perfect condition, especially when there are a lot of infrastructure deficits across the city. 

“For instance, one is lost as to why he is scrapping the already tarred roads in say Maitama, Asokoro or Wuse, among others. Not only are they in good condition, they may remain strong for over a decade. Why would taxpayers’ money go into such projects since there are numerous other communities that need fresh road projects, among other things, to improve connectivity and urban development?

“Besides, FCTA is not only about land and road projects. Everyone is aware that Abuja has some of the worst schools and hospital facilities. A Few days ago, primary school teachers had to embark on a strike because of unsettled allowances and salaries. There was a report of resignation of about 50 medical doctors who could not put up with the working conditions in the FCTA. Why are they not receiving adequate attention or are they not as important as roads or land? The answer is better left to be imagined,” Agare lamented.

He therefore  made a fervent appeal to both the public and governmental bodies, urging them to take a stand against what he described as Wike’s attempts to build an empire devoid of the decency and integrity expected of a public servant. “Wike wants to build an empire, but not with decency, as is done elsewhere,” he concluded, emphasizing the need for accountability and vigilance from all stakeholders in the FCT.