By: Bayero Ade
Former National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s silence over the ongoing mass demolition of houses in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) carried out by the Minister, Nyesom Wike.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, Frank urged the President to intervene immediately and halt the demolitions, warning that the oppressive actions of the FCT administration could have significant political repercussions during the 2027 presidential elections.
Frank accused Wike of inflicting undue hardship on FCT residents in an attempt to prove himself as a performing minister. “Since Wike assumed office, he has been terrorizing the FCT under the guise of restoring the city’s masterplan, causing immense pain to Nigerians. His actions are more about sycophantic display than genuine performance,” Frank said.
He lamented the President’s lack of response, describing it as an endorsement of illegality and a failure to protect the rights and welfare of citizens. “The President’s silence is shocking and unacceptable. It suggests his administration supports these anti-people actions that are leaving ordinary Nigerians in anguish,” Frank added.
Frank also criticized Senate President Godswill Akpabio for stating that the Senate could not stop Wike’s demolitions because they were court-ordered. “This essentially renders the Senate’s resolution to halt the demolitions meaningless and underscores the need for the President to urgently step in and stop these actions,” he stated.
The activist accused Akpabio and other political elites of benefiting from Wike’s alleged land-grabbing activities, masked as efforts to restore the FCT’s masterplan. He called on the President to address the matter, reminding him that he, not Wike, would face voters in 2027, and the ongoing demolitions could alienate critical support.
Frank alleged that Wike’s demolitions were vindictive, claiming the minister was using his powers to retaliate for his political fallout with Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State. He criticized Wike for advising victims of the demolitions to seek legal redress, knowing they might not find justice in a compromised judicial system.
“The demolitions are not only inhuman but also damaging to the nation’s economy,” Frank said, adding that they would discourage foreign investors. “How can investors come to Nigeria when they see a government destroying properties with valid documents and denying victims justice?”
He further accused Wike of treating the FCT like his personal estate, alleging that properties seized during the demolitions were being reallocated to his associates and proxies.
Frank concluded by urging President Tinubu to intervene immediately to stop the demolitions, compensate victims, and protect citizens’ rights. He also called on Nigerians to condemn the minister’s actions and demand accountability from the government. “We must stand together to demand justice and protect the rights of all Nigerians,” he declared.
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