Abuja is bleeding

Last week, almost all the media reports on the altercation between the FCT minister, and a detachment of military officers were reported and narrated with sensation rather than being objective and dwelling on the wider implication of the whole episode. The minister was on an enforcement mission to stop and demolish an ongoing development without […]

Last week, almost all the media reports on the altercation between the FCT minister, and a detachment of military officers were reported and narrated with sensation rather than being objective and dwelling on the wider implication of the whole episode. The minister was on an enforcement mission to stop and demolish an ongoing development without valid allocation and development permit.

The Minister’s mission was legitimate, but abnormal. A minister should not be directly enmeshed in a task which is the responsibility of a statutory department under his supervision. Even if the officers responsible for the assignment encounter resistance from the military the manner in which the minister got involved is uncalled for. Unless there are other underlying motives.

On the other hand, no matter the circumstances, it is very unfortunate for the military, just like the police force in Nigeria, who should be in the front row of ensuring maintenance of law and order in the land, to be seen in broad day light, defending a development in the federal capital city that doesn’t have valid ownership document. All the developers on the land, specifically the military, can use their might, to recover their rights from the person that dishonestly sold it to them, with assistance of the FCTA, if possible, but not by confrontations.

Beyond these facts, and the public statement by the former Director of Development Control, that the land being developed doesn’t have valid documents, a lot of questions are still begging for answers from the authority. If the people are illegally claiming the ownership, what is the underlying information concerning the land that made its ownership and development illegitimate? Were they stopped because of the fact that the land is a green area, road reservation or owned by other persons who had prior allocations? And how did the authority treat other developments with such abuses and conflicts?

On all these grounds, the present FCT Administration, led by Wike, had many times shot itself in the foot by the violations itself. There are many plots of land that are subject of land use abuses in the city, but his administration granted allocations and building permit for contrary uses.

All those conversant with the rules and regulations are aware that all the available instruments being used for the operations of the Department of Development Control  in the city are against granting the development permit on green areas and road corridor reservations. A typical example is what is now being implemented at the Wuse Zone 6 Neighbouhood Park, just a stone throw from the AMMC headquarters.

The Minister has the power to revoke and reallocate lands, but by the provision of overriding public interest. More so, that all parks are allocated and used for the benefit of the public. There is no way any valid ground can be manufactured to support the allocations and the approvals.

If the administration cannot lead by showing good example, how does it expect other citizens, to respect its orders? The whole episode could be summed up with the popular statement that “he who comes to equity must come with clean hands”.

We know and can attest to the loyalty of the security agencies to the FCT administration, most especially to the office of the FCT minister as the Chief Security Officer of the territory. The general public, most especially the security agencies, are not blind to the manner the FCT land laws are being violated by those that should be the custodians. Last week, this respect and obedience to the constituted authority was eroded to its lowest ebb, ever. And almost all media platforms that reported the event supported the military action not because they are not aware that there is illegality in their development, but because of the extent of the loss of public confidence on the present FCT administration.

We cannot forget that there was a time in the past that a whole building belonging to a serving Minister of Defence was demolished by the FCT Administration and nobody prevented the enforcement. Unfortunately, the sanctity of the city is now being traded for political expediency. Not only against the well-being of the capital city, but the parties involved. This has the tendency of endangering the stability of the Nigerian democracy.

Obviously, the question on the mind of anybody who fell victim of improper land acquisition would be, why me alone? When other people are being protected to develop lands that have more serious land use violations why should the others be protected, and not subjected to the same treatment?

The fact is that even if the disputed land is allowed to be developed by the military officer, it can only last up to the time the Southern Parkway construction continues. Meanwhile, the FCT Minister has revoked all green area allocations in the city. The owners were directed to reapply for revalidation but subject to the discretion of the minister.

We believe that, if there is no any perception of selective justice, the Military and any other sensible persons would surrender without any resistence. All those violations by the administration have to be reversed. Otherwise, there will be more breakdown of law and order. A stitch in time saves nine.