The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, revealed that he particularly enjoyed challenging the elite in society. The former governor of Rivers State made this known during a media chat in Abuja, days after he repossessed properties affected by the recent revocation of 4,794 land titles due to the non-payment of ground rent spanning between 10 and 43 years.
Among the sealed properties is the secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This development comes a month after Wike approved the revocation of land titles for failing to settle ground rent obligations for over four decades. During the media briefing, the 57-year-old reiterated that all property owners in Abuja who have yet to pay their ground rent must do so or risk government sanctions.
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He also claimed that his predecessors lacked the political will to compel influential figures in the capital to fulfil their annual rent obligations. Wike said, “Look at what we are doing differently. People have said that FCT was not working (but) now it is working which means I’m doing things that they (past FCT ministers) refused to do”. “I found out that most of them didn’t have the courage to annoy people, to step on toes but I take joy when I step on the toes of big men; those who say nothing will happen but I say something will happen, it makes me happy”.
“They expect me to make decisions that only affect the poor, thinking no one will challenge them. But I insist that even the powerful must face consequences. That’s why we’re getting results. If you refuse to do the right thing, that’s your loss—I’m not bothered.”
