Nobody Can Intimidate Me” — Wike Fires Back

According to Ireporter Online, Wike made the declaration during his monthly media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday while responding to criticism surrounding the sealing and revocation of the Jabi Recreational Park. He specifically faulted the African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, along with other activists, for opposing the government’s action.

The FCT Minister explained that the park had been allocated to private developers approximately 15 years ago with the intention of transforming it into a modern recreational facility. However, he said successive administrations allowed the project to stagnate, leaving the site neglected and overrun by makeshift structures, food vendors, and weeds instead of the intended leisure infrastructure.

Wike stated that after personally inspecting the location, he concluded that the land was no longer serving its original purpose and decided to revoke the allocation. He dismissed allegations that the revocation was motivated by personal interests, saying he was unmoved by claims circulating on social media accusing him of grabbing the property.

The minister stressed that the government could not shoulder every development project alone and revealed plans to partner with private investors through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to transform the facility into a world-class recreational centre.

Responding to criticism from Sowore and other activists, Wike accused some self-proclaimed activists of exploiting public issues for personal gain, insisting that their comments would not influence his decisions. He reiterated that the redevelopment of Jabi Recreational Park would go ahead, arguing that the current condition of the site falls far short of what residents of the Federal Capital Territory deserve.