Headlines
We Were Not Given Prior Notice, Victims Lament As FCDA Demolishes Abuja Houses, Churches
The Federal Capital Development Authority has demolished two residential buildings and three churches in Gyadna, a community in the Abuja Metropolitan Area Council.
The buildings were pulled down around 2pm on Tuesday by FCDA officials who were accompanied by armed policemen.
But owners of the buildings said they were not given prior notice before the buildings were destroyed.
One of them, Johnson Oyewole, whose four-bedroom bungalow was mowed down, said he was being victimised for petitioning the National Assembly over an alleged fraud perpetrated by FCDA officials in the payment of compensation to homeowners in the community.
Oyewole explained that he had just stepped out to get something when a neighbour phoned him that his house was being pulled down.
He stated, “I was not given any prior notice about the demolition. I had just stepped out when they came with their bulldozers and brought my apartment down.
“They did not allow me to salvage any of my personal effects, including clothes, documents, furniture, foodstuff, television set and other things. Everything was buried under the rubble.
“To prove that it was an act of mischief and wickedness, a building that had been marked for demolition was spared while mine was destroyed. They demolished the house because I challenged the fraud being perpetrated in the compensation scheme for landlords in Gyadna.
“The case is still being probed by the National Assembly, Public Complaints Commission, National Human Rights Commission and other agencies, but FCDA disregarded due process.”
Another victim, Mr Peter Ekeh, lamented the demolition of his seven-room bungalow, stating that he was not given advance notice.
Ekeh, who was salvaging some possessions from the rubble alongside his wife and daughter when PUNCH Metro got to the scene, admitted that he had been compensated by the FCDA.
He, however, noted that 30 per cent of the money was taken by “the youth and chief in Gyadna.”
The Pastor of Evangelism Miracle Bible Revelation Movement, Kelechi Okpara, said his church and apartment were demolished while he was inside the house.
“The officials did not give me advance notice before the demolition. My wife just had a baby about two weeks ago; now, I don’t have a place to stay,” he lamented as sympathisers and church members salvaged items from the rubble.
The Director, Development Control Department, FCDA, Kwamkur Garba, could not be reached for comment on Wednesday as calls to his phone rang out.
He had yet to respond to a text message seeking his reaction to the allegations levelled against his office.
The Punch
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lambasted the administration of President Bola Tinubu over insecurity bedeviling the country.
In an interview with News Central, Obasanjo said any government that cannot protect lives and property of its citizens has no basis to exist.
The former leader was reacting to the recent wave of insecurity, which has confronted Nigeria, resulting in the killing of several citizens and abduction of others.
“Let me tell you, the government that cannot give security of life and property of its citizen has no right of existence.
“The elected members of our National Assembly have no right to fix their own salary and their own emolument.
“It’s not in our constitution for them to do that. It’s the revenue mobilization and allocation commission that should do it,” he said.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has offered its presidential ticket to Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso ahead of the 2027 elections, signaling intensifying efforts to forge a united opposition as key political deadlines approach.
In a post on X on Sunday, the party indicated a two-week window for both politicians, currently linked to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to defect and secure its platform’s presidential ticket.
“All we need right now. Just all we need. Two weeks to deadline,” the NDC said, accompanying the message with an image of Obi and Kwankwaso and the caption: “Nigeria will be OK.”
The development comes amid renewed calls for opposition consolidation ahead of the next general elections. Supporters of both men recently launched the “OK Movement”, aimed at mobilising support for a possible joint ticket.
Organisers of the movement have begun setting up national, zonal and State structures, suggesting early groundwork for a broader political alliance.
However, the ADC is currently grappling with internal divisions that could affect its participation in the elections. The party is facing a leadership crisis, with competing factions contesting control of its structure.
The dispute is now before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, which has reserved judgment in an appeal arising from the leadership tussle.
The uncertainty comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) maintains its timetable for the 2027 polls, setting May 30, 2026, as the deadline for political parties to submit membership registers and nominate candidates.
Opposition parties, including factions of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), have called for an extension of the timeline, arguing that the schedule is too tight given ongoing internal restructuring and legal disputes.
The NDC’s offer highlights the shifting dynamics within Nigeria’s opposition landscape, where alliances remain fluid and negotiations are ongoing.
Both Obi and Kwankwaso are influential political figures with significant regional support bases, and any alignment between them could reshape the balance of power ahead of the elections.
INEC has yet to indicate whether it will adjust its timetable, as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue to gather momentum.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed concern over reports that the Senate is considering the suspension of political campaigns in eight Northern states under the pretext of rising insecurity.
Atiku, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, described the development as deeply troubling and fraught with dangerous implications for Nigeria’s democracy.
He noted that while insecurity remains a serious national challenge that must be confronted decisively, it must never become a convenient justification for undermining constitutional rights or selectively restricting democratic participation.
“Let it be clearly stated: the right to vote and participate in the electoral process is fundamental and cannot be abridged under any guise. Any attempt—whether deliberate or disguised—to suppress political activities in parts of Northern Nigeria raises legitimate concerns about disenfranchisement,” Atiku said.
The Waziri Adamawa recalled that credible intelligence had earlier pointed to possible plans to weaken electoral participation in key Northern states, warning that recent developments appear to be lending credence to those fears.
“This is not merely about campaigns; it is about representation, inclusion, and the integrity of our democratic process. You cannot cure insecurity by silencing the voices of the people. Democracy must not become a casualty of government failure,” he added.
The former Vice President stressed that the people of Northern Nigeria, like all Nigerians, deserve both security and full participation in the democratic process — not one at the expense of the other.
He added that it is the responsibility of government to provide security for its citizens, while it remains the duty of citizens to freely exercise their civic rights without fear, intimidation, or unlawful restriction.
“At a time when citizens are already battling hardship and insecurity, the least the government can do is to guarantee their right to be heard — not to restrict it. Any policy that creates the impression of targeted exclusion will only deepen distrust and national division,” he warned.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, and the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately clarify their position and reassure Nigerians that no region will be denied its constitutional rights.
“Nigeria must never descend into a situation where elections are shaped by exclusion, fear, or administrative manipulation. The consequences of such actions are far-reaching and better imagined than experienced,” Atiku cautioned.
He urged all stakeholders to uphold the principles of fairness, equity, and national unity, emphasising that democracy must remain inclusive, transparent, and credible across every part of the country.
