A former deputy spokesman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Timi Frank, has accused the minister of Federal Capital Territory, Myesom Wike, of abusing his office by allocating lands to his families, cronies and political associates to fund President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election.  

Mr Tinubu, who is still in the first four years of his administration, had not officially declared to contest. 

Mr Frank, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, expressed concerns over the land grabbing saga by Mr Wike, saying the silence of Mr Tinubu on the matter by not calling the FCT minister to order was troubling and suggested he’s being encouraged.  

He described Mr Wike’s alleged illegal allocation of lands to his family members, cronies, and political associates at the expense of genuine applicants as a ” national scandal that demands urgent intervention.”

“The continued silence of President Tinubu in the face of these weighty allegations is both troubling and unacceptable. If these actions by the FCT minister go unchecked, they will tarnish the President’s image and administration. What does this silence say about your government, Mr. President? Are you, by omission or commission, endorsing these corrupt practices to build patronage and raise funds for the 2027 elections?,” Mr Frank said. 

He described the failure of the nation’s security and anti-corruption agencies – the police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and others – to probe the allegations as equally disturbing, stating that the minister’s actions extended to revoking land from an embassy to gift it to a personal associate – a clear case of impunity. 

Mr Frank equally lamented the inaction of the National Assembly with oversight responsibility over the FCT administration.

According to him, Mr Wike’s blatant disregard for the rule of law would discourage local and foreign investors, leading to economic setbacks for the FCT and Nigeria as a whole. 

“Mr President, let me remind you that a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Betta Edu’s case was not as grievous compared to what Wike has done yet you suspended and sacked her.

“So why is Wike’s case different despite the public expose’? This clearly shows that you are either a beneficiary of Wike’s land grabbing spree or an accomplice by your refusal to act in the face of public outcry against the heist,” he added. 

He, however, demanded the immediate resignation of Mr Wike to allow for independent investigation into his atrocities. 

Efforts to get the reaction of a spokesman for the FCT minister, Lere Olayinka, were not successful as his line was unavailable. 

A text message sent to his mobile had yet to be delivered as of the time this story was sent. 

Peoples Gazette had exclusively exposed how Mr Wike had been involved in land grabbing by allocating them to his family members, political associates, and cronies in the government.