The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, says he is in charge of land in Abuja and is only dealing with land grabbers.

Wike, who spoke on Thursday at a Thanksgiving service organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ahoada East and West local government areas of Rivers State, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for giving him the opportunity to serve in his government.

Wike said if Tinubu did not give him the opportunity to serve, he wouldn’t have known the way Nigeria is.

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He denied the accusations made against him that he is a land grabber, saying that as the FCT Minister, he is in charge of lands in Abuja and cannot in anyway grab land.

He said, “Those who are grabbing land are the people I am dealing with and that is why we must thank Mr President, if he didn’t give us this opportunity we would not have known the way this country is.

“Do not bother, people say controversial if being controversial is because you want the right thing to be done, I prefer it so.

“People say land grabbing, do you grab what you are in charge? I am in charge of land in Abuja, how will I go and grab what I am in charge?

“Here in Rivers, we thought it was difficult but when you go to a capital territory of a country you know that you are dealing with entire Nigerians.

“People think that because yesterday nobody was able to implement rules, it means that today, nobody would be able to do it. It means that tomorrow nobody will be able to do it. No, it is not like that. The mere fact that no government was able to do it yesterday doesn’t mean that this Renewed Hope Agenda government can not do it today.

“That is why I can assure you that no matter the cry you cry, no matter the propaganda you carry, I will do what is right. If you like give me any name you want to give me. You heard what the president said, Nigerians do not like to comply.

“Simple thing, comply, because they think some of us, you can threaten us, you can blackmail us, it is fake. It won’t work. I do not even know whether you are blackmailing me, I am not interested. My interest is that I am doing what is right and even if heaven comes, I will still do it.”

Earlier in his welcome address the former Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, commended President Tinubu for appointing Wike as the minister of the FCT.

He said Wike has showed to Nigerians that what he did in Rivers State was not a fluke, but it’s his nature to transform states and cities.

He said that Wike is working and transforming Abuja.

It was double tragedy for the Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State as he lost his 24-year-old son, Abdulwahab, on Thursday, a day after his mother, Maryam passed on.

Abdulwahab died in a road crash when he was going to Kafin-Hausa local government area of Jigawa state for the condolence of his grandmother who was buried on Wednesday, the governor’s spokesperson, Hamisu Gumel said in a statement on Thursday.

According to the statement, the vehicle in which the Governor’s son was riding in had a on-head collision with a Volkswagen golf resulting in his instant death.

One other person also died in the accident.

The statement by the Governor Namadi’s spokesperson reads: “With a heavy heart and total submission to the will of Almighty Allah, His Excellency Mallam Umar Namadi, Governor of Jigawa State, announces the passing of yet another member of his family; his dear son Abdulwahab Umar Namadi.

“He departed this world this afternoon (Thursday, December 26th, 2024) as a result of a ghastly motor accident along Dutse-Kafin-Hausa Road.

“The burial rite is taking place at this moment in Kafin Hausa town, in accordance with Islamic traditions.

“A 24-year-old, late Abdulwahab is survived by his parents and many siblings.

“To Allah belongs that which He has taken, and to Him belongs that which He has given, and everything has an appointed time with Him,” Mr Gumel stated.

The Jigawa governor had also on Wednesday announced the death of his mother, Maryam Namadi-Umar, after a brief illness.

Ngozi Ezeobika Orabueze, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Biafra Government In Exile, has said efforts are ongoing to ensure Simon Ekpa’s release from detention and the actualisation of the independent nation of Biafra.

Ekpa, the self-proclaimed Prime Minister the Biafra Government In Exile, is being detained in Finland.

Orabueze who made the vow in her Christmas message to the ‘people of Biafran Nation,’ said she and others were working to achieve the actualisation of the United States of Biafra and ensure Ekpa’s release.

Recall Finland district court in Lahti had ordered that Ekpa should be remanded in prison following his arrest for suspected terrorist activities.

Ekpa was accused of using social media platforms to spread separatist propaganda linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group advocating for the secession of southeastern Nigeria.

The court alleged that the offences dated back to August 23, 2021.

Finland authorities have also investigated Ekpa in the past for alleged financial crimes, including the collection of funds through questionable means.

Orabueze in her message said, “As we celebrate this festive season, I extend my warmest Christmas wishes to every law-abiding Biafran, and especially to the Biafra Defense Forces for their unwavering defense of the territory of the United States of Biafra against the occupying Nigerian terrorist state actors.

“May this Yuletide bring joy, peace, and an abundance of love into your homes.

“We stand on the cusp of a new year, and with it, we look forward to a future filled with great promise and prosperity.

“I urge you to continue placing your trust in and supporting our government-the United States of Biafra Government-under my stewardship.

“Together, we are working tirelessly toward the recognition of our country and preparing for the triumphant return of our able Prime Minister, Ekpa Simon Njoku.

“He leads and will continue to lead us through the final stretch of our journey to realize the dream of the United States of Biafra as an independent, sovereign nation, guided by the principles of justice, fairness, and equity.”