FCT ministers: ‘Soldiers’ on a ‘battle-ground’

Architect Ibrahim Bunu (1999-2001) Arc Bunu was the first Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to be appointed in 1999 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo after the return to democratic rule. A strong member of the late General Shehu Musa Yar’adua’s political organisation, the National Democratic Movement (NDM), Bunu’s appointment was at the instance […]

Architect Ibrahim Bunu

(1999-2001)

Arc Bunu was the first Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to be appointed in 1999 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo after the return to democratic rule. A strong member of the late General Shehu Musa Yar’adua’s political organisation, the National Democratic Movement (NDM), Bunu’s appointment was at the instance of the then Vice President Atiku Abubakar, after he contested and lost the Borno Central Senatorial District election to Ali Modu Sheriff in 1999. Being a politician, his two- year tenure in the FCT was not phenomenal if not for the controversy that surrounded the sales of Federal Government houses and some administrative skirmishes.

The straw that broke the camel’s back was his face-off with President Obasanjo over the inauguration of the Board of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA). He was finally relieved of his appointment despite an attempt by then-Vice President Atiku to save his job.

Engineer Mohammed Abba Gana (2001-2003)

Engr. Abba Gana, also from Borno State, replaced Arc Bunu as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He preoccupied himself with the Federal Government policy of providing affordable housing units for bureaucrats in the capital city.

Abba Gana also carved a niche for himself as the FCT minister that signed most of the housing units PPP projects with some controversial firms believed to be associated with the former president. Most of the housing units, despite the billions of Naira pumped into them by government remained either unexecuted or subject of endless legal controversies.

He was quoted at that time saying that Abuja was still a capital city under construction. He left in 2003 without building the eight million housing units he said Nigerians need.

Malam Nasiru el-Rufa’i

(2003-2007)

His four- year foray as FCT minister brought about some phenomenal changes in the capital city. He initiated various programmes and implemented them in a controversial manner. He established in the capital city, for the first time, Abuja Geographical and Information System (AGIS) that provided an aerial mapping of the federal capital.

Rufa’i stepped on so many toes in his effort to restore the capital city’s original master plan. That alone exposed the former minister into serious controversy that oscillated from demolition of illegally-built structures, demolition of slumps, banning of commercial motorcyclists, hawkers and beggars to the ejection of prominent personalities as well as the massive revocation of undeveloped property in the city.

The minister’s involvement into the Obasanjo-Atiku political face-off was el- Rufa’i’s anti-climax. His reported arrogance and aggressive involvement into politics as well as his no-love-lost with the lawmakers at the National Assembly occasioned his current travails after his benefactor, Obasanjo failed to secure a third term. His tenure in the FCT is widely agreed to have touched the lives of all its inhabitants both low and mighty. He was despised even though people still refer to his good works.

Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar

(2007-2008)

Dr. Umar was appointed by President Umaru Musa Yar’adua in 2007. Unlike his predecessor, Umar toed the line of President Yar’adua’s rule of law. Having inherited over 7000 litigations from el-Rufa’i, Umar decided to uphold the rule of law and refused to court unnecessary controversy.

His rule of law standpoints, to certain extent, saw to the return of unpacked refuse in the capital city, hawkers and beggars in Abuja streets, among other eye sores hitherto eradicated by his predecessor, thereby pitching him against the residents of the city. 

His tenure didn’t witnessed any major demolition exercise, instead, it brought some succour and solace to some residents, as he returned some revoked property and paid compensation to some victims of illegal demolition. Though, many have accused him of inefficiency, Umar defended himself saying that he was a democrat and therefore bent in protecting people’s rights in accordance with the president’s rule of law. Umar was finally sack in a circumstance shrouded with political undertones.

Senator Adamu Aliero (2008 – ?)

(See main story.)