By Muhammed Abubakar, Reporting
ABUJA – Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike launched a scathing attack on rival factions within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday, naming Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and Taminu Turaki as leaders of a splinter bloc he accused of financial misconduct and deliberate defiance of court orders.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, Wike dismissed claims of any interim governing body within the party, branding the proposal unlawful and deceptive.
“How long will this deception continue?” he demanded. “You can’t flout court orders and then claim you’ve built a lawful organisational framework to present to Nigerians. That isn’t how a democratic process functions.”
Wike insisted that only a court-recognised leadership has legitimate authority to manage party affairs, warning that any competing structure is legally void.
He further accused the faction of attempting to mislead both party members and the public with what he called an “unauthorised caretaker setup”.
“The courts have specified who is authorised to oversee party affairs until a proper convention is held. Ignoring that and instituting a different structure is outright fraud – 419,” he added, employing the Nigerian penal code term for advance-fee fraud.
He also decried a decline in ethical standards among certain political figures, including senior legal practitioners, alleging they were weakening institutions for personal gain.
“Those who should be defending the rule of law are the ones attempting to manipulate it,” Wike concluded.
Jabi Lake crackdown
In a separate directive, Wike ordered a crackdown on abandoned and poorly developed plots around Jabi Lake, describing the situation as an “eyesore” unbefitting of Nigeria’s capital.
His move follows a viral video in which a popular pastor pleaded with the minister to “leave Jabi Lake for Nigerians”, warning against developments that could limit public access to the recreational hub.
Dismissing what he called “emotional appeals”, Wike insisted the administration was acting strictly according to the Abuja master plan.
“They told us they would build something like what you see in Dubai – a city walk, a proper entertainment centre. But what do you find there today? Shanties,” he said.
He revealed that land allocated for high-end projects had lain undeveloped for 15 years, with makeshift structures taking over.
“If you are not ready to develop, we will take back the land and give it to those who are serious,” he declared, confirming that several plots had already been revoked.
Wike stressed that the measures were not aimed at seizing the lake from the public but at restoring order, citing a case where a recreational facility was converted into a place of worship without approval.
“You cannot take land meant for recreation and turn it into something else. That is not how a modern city operates. We will enforce compliance,” he warned.
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