An NGO, Society for the Youth and the Downthroden, SOYD, has condemned very strongly the recent demolition exercise carried out by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA at Kabusa Area of Abuja saying that it was conducted without due diligence where many residents were affected.
In a press release issued yesterday by the President, SOYD, Comrade Ogwuche Gabriel, this exercise he stated was not only insensitive to the plight of the people, but constitutes encroachment into the peaceful activities lining up for the inauguration of the new government which upcoming in the next few days.
Ogwuche said that the last minute demolition exercise had shown clearly that the activities of the current administration of FCT through the development control, monitoring and inspection/enforcement team were characterised by lawlessness, bribery/corruption, highhandedness, incompetence and inefficiency which would no longer be tolerated.
In his words: “Consequently, we urge the Hon. Minister of FCT to stop further demolition exercises in any part of the territory until after the inauguration of the President-Elect, Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the 29th May, 2023.
“It is pertinent to note that the notice of the purported demolition exercise was first communicated to the residents on the 12th April, 2023 and on the 5th May, 2023, people’s houses and their means of livelihood were bulldozed and destroyed with valuables carted away.”
He said that, this act was unwholesome and unbecoming of the federal capital territory administration of our dream.
“We are also questioning the circumstances that led to the deployment of large number of armed security men for the purpose of carrying out this unwholesome activities,” Ogwuche said.
According to him, this action of the FCDA was synonymous to crime against humanity by the out-going administration and therefore, “we wish to call on the armed forces, especially the Nigeria Army, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to withdraw from the activities of the collaborative FCT task force until it is purged of alleged criminal behaviour and other illegal activities.
“We watched with embarrassment at several occasions in the FCT when the head of the task team commanded the security personnel to shooting and killing people for video covering the demolition exercise with their phones.
“We feel that any collaborative arrangement between our armed forces and any other agency of government like FCDA must be based on the known professional standard and engagement to avoid diminishing the image of the Nigeria armed forces, especially the Nigeria army.
“The situation whereby the leader(s) of the FCT administrative task force exercise military command over Nigeria soldiers and police personnel attached to them is not only unacceptable, but unprofessional and in fragrance disregard to military ethics and values.
“It is evidently clear that FCT has been overtaking by weeds while the central business district CBD, is overcrowded by cows and other farm animals. The traffic and street lights, to mention but just a few are not working and yet, The Hon. Minister is not looking toward these directions.”
Furthermore, the Group’s President said that the task of keeping Abuja clean, united and peaceful in accordance with the original master plan was a stakeholders’ responsibility that requires consultations and humanitarian approach that is completely devoid of intimidations and personal interest adding that, “This is how to achieve a better society.”
