Rita Lori Ogbebor, a prominent activist from the Niger Delta and member of the Olu of Warri Council, has called for an investigation into Nyesom Wike, Nigeria’s Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, regarding his involvement in a contentious land dispute in Abuja.
This demand arises amid her family’s ongoing struggle with the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), which has threatened to demolish a 42-year-old estate developed by her late husband, Col. Paul Ogbebor.
Ogbebor highlighted the need for respect and recognition of Nigerians’ contributions, stating, “What I want is, first, Nigerians to know that people should be paid and respected for the contributions they’ve given to this country, not about the money and position.” She expressed her discontent with the situation, labeling it an injustice to her husband’s legacy.
The estate in question is valued at N3.5 billion and has been part of the Ogbebor family for decades. According to Ogbebor, her husband was allocated land during the early days of Nigeria’s capital development. She recounted that many companies were granted land for their operations, including her husband. However, over time, the family encountered bureaucratic challenges, including revalidating land certificates and incurring significant survey costs.
Recently, Ogbebor’s children paid N10 million to initiate the process of regularizing the land. However, following Wike’s assumption of office, he declared the property “illegal” and described its buildings as “dilapidated.” Ogbebor insisted on preserving her husband’s legacy, stating that it would be a waste of their lives if they lost this estate.
The estate is home to various residents, including foreign nationals. Ogbebor questioned Wike’s claims of dilapidation by pointing out that many expatriates reside there. “How can you think white people will stay in a dilapidated area?” she asked.
In her call for action, Ogbebor urged Nigerians to investigate Wike’s actions and challenged President Bola Tinubu to probe his role in what she described as a land grab. She stated, “I challenge Mr. President… that he must probe Wike.” Additionally, she has instructed her lawyers to take over the case and called for an independent investigation to ascertain whether her late husband’s actions were criminal or if he genuinely contributed to national development.
