Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has addressed the recent clash between the Minister and some soldiers.
KanyiDaily has reported how things got heated in Abuja on Tuesday when soldiers blocked Nyesom Wike and his convoy from entering a piece of land in the Gaduwa district.
The confrontation nearly turned physical as the minister’s security team clashed with the soldiers guarding the property.
Speaking on Channels Television on Wednesday, Olayinka explained that the land in question was never allocated to the former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (rtd.).
According to him, the former Naval Chief was scammed in the Abuja land deal and responded by using military force instead of seeking a proper resolution.
Wike’s aide explained that the land was originally given to a company that later tried to convert it for commercial use against its intended purpose.
“That particular land was allocated to a company in 2007, Santos Estate Limited, for park and recreation. The company did not do anything on the land because that place is a road corridor — you don’t build there,” Olayinka said.
“Then, in 2022, the company wrote to the FCT Development Authority (FCTDA), seeking approval to convert the land’s purpose to commercial use.
“Probably in anticipation of the Minister’s approval, the company began partitioning the land originally meant for park and recreation and sold it to people, including the former Chief of Naval Staff.
“I want to say here that the former Chief of Naval Staff was scammed, and he has realised that he was scammed. Instead of coming forward to seek help, he resorted to using military might.”
KanyiDaily recalls that Dr. Olanrewaju Tejuoso, the pro-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, had criticized Nyesom Wike for slashing the institution’s land mass from 11,000 hectares to 4,000.
