By Seyi Odewale, Francis Ajuonuma, and Ben Adoga
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has dismissed the conjecture gaining momentum in the media that he was building homes for judges in Abuja to pocket them for political gains.
According to him, the construction of homes for judges was not his policy but part of the welfare packages President Bola Tinubu designed for them to promote the independence of the judiciary.
Wike, who disclosed this at a media chat yesterday, said the project was approved in the 2024 budget and was only performing his duty as a Minister to implement it.
He said, “The President asked: Where are the judges living? They have no homes and, therefore, are open to political manipulation. For me, as a President who wants to guarantee the independence of the judiciary, judges must have their homes.
“I am not Mr President; I am only lucky to be appointed as a Minister under this administration and who is in the position to implement his policies. And Mr President said, look, this is what he wants; come up and see what we can do.
“Mr. President approved it and sent to the National Assembly in the 2024 budget that there should be the construction of judges and Justice’s quarters. And that they should move judges from where they are renting houses and living among ‘criminals.’
“A policy anybody should commend, Mr President, it is in the budget of 2024, appropriated by the National Assembly, assented to by Mr President, which is a law. What is the problem? I am only the implementer; go and implement this.
“Federal Executive Council approved the contract and everything; it is not my policy; how will you now want to kill me that I am implementing what the Federal Government approved?” he asked.
He insisted that constructing homes for judges was nothing wrong, even if it was his idea, adding that he had done something similar when he was governor of Rivers State.
The former Rivers State governor lamented the criticisms for this project instead of commendations, especially from those in the legal profession.
*Blasts Bauchi gov, Bala Mohammed, over PDP crisis
Commenting on the crisis within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Wike said the bane of the party was personal ambition, arguing that those parading themselves as the peacemaker in the party are the culprits disturbing the party’s peace.
According to him, the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, who is the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, initiated the idea of making the acting Chairman of the party, Illiya Damagum, complete the remaining part of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu’s tenure, who was asked to step down as the party chairman as a way to calm the temper in the party.
It was the same governor, he said, who had been crying louder that Damagum must leave simply because he (Damagum) was no longer doing his bidding. “Let Bala come out to say no. Bala’s idea was that Damagum should complete Ayu’s term, but now that Damagum is no longer doing his bidding, then Damagum should go,” he said. “Bala is on his own; there is no failing in the PDP,” he added.
Wike said he thought the acting Chairman should complete Ayu’s tenure, which ends next year, thereby giving room for the party to put its House in order and elect credible leaders who would develop credible candidates to vie for offices in 2027.
“Let these people complete their tenure till next year when the convention would hold around October or November to produce the best people to champion our party,” he said, adding that you are just dissipating your energy when you cannot wait till next year.
Coming to the Rivers State PDP crisis, Wike said there was no crisis in the party at the state level, adding that the state governor, Siminalaye Fubara, is no longer a member.
On Atiku Abubakar’s opposition to President Tinubu’s policies, which some people saw as the lone voice in the wilderness, Wike said, “Criticism does not mean that opposition is serious.”
*Set to release 50 vehicles to combat insecurity, scavenging
Meanwhile, Wike revealed that he was set to give security agents in the FCT 50 vehicles to tackle insecurity and check scavengers who have constituted security threats in the FCT.
Wike said that the situation is far better now, as the security agents are working day and night to keep Abuja residents secure.
The Minister said some of the beggars constitute not only nuisance but security threats, as some of them are informants.
“I disagree with you that poverty is responsible; professional begging is what is happening. We have security threats, and you give excuses for them.
“Some of them are not only informants but scavengers too. The Committee is now working day and night. Next week, I will distribute 50 vehicles to security agencies to comfort Abuja residents. We are giving them the necessary support to enable them to succeed.
“We’re here to fight insecurity and give Abuja residents the comfort they deserve. If Abuja is not safe, then forget Nigeria.”
On transportation, Wike said the government alone will not do everything. He said after the building of the bus terminals, he would collaborate with the private sector, and all private participants in the Abuja painted taxis would be tracked, too.
