When my husband built Abuja 42 years ago, Wike, Chinda were teenagers – Wife Of Late Col Ogbebor

Mrs. Rita Lori Ogbebor, widow of the late Colonel Paul Ogbebor, has expressed strong opposition to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike’s revocation of land interests in Abuja, including properties her family has occupied for over four decades.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Mrs. Ogbebor emphasized her late husband’s contributions to the development of Abuja, asserting that it would be inappropriate for the government to reclaim lands that have been in the family’s possession for decades.

Her comments follow a recent report by SaharaReporters detailing the plight of residents in the Life Camp area of Abuja, where FCT officials attempted to demolish homes despite claims of a subsisting court order against such actions. Videos shared on social media captured residents resisting the demolition, alleging that the revoked lands had been reallocated to influential individuals linked to the minister.

One notable voice among the residents, social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, accused the FCT administration of targeting lands owned by prominent individuals, including Colonel Ogbebor’s family.

Addressing the controversy, Mrs. Ogbebor criticized the administration’s actions and stated her unwillingness to appeal to President Bola Tinubu or Minister Wike to resolve the dispute. Instead, she called on those close to the President to bring the matter to his attention.

Colonel Paul Ogbebor, a respected military officer, is remembered for his pivotal role in Abuja’s development.

“I am not saying the President should know me, but the people, the leaders, who surround and advise the President should know people like us, who oil the wheel of progress in this country. And when there is a problem like this, they should intervene, and if it is above them, they should take it to the president.

“My husband was one of those who built Abuja; they gave him a piece of land to work as an engineer. He brought people from all over the world to work with him. Now, after 42 years, they want to demolish it and give it to Chinda? Who is Chinda?

“If you take Chinda’s age today and the period we have been here, Chinda was only 14 years old. And so is Wike. Is that not belittling of me at the age of 84, to go and meet the president, ‘Mr. President, someone in my country is demolishing my house? No. I would rather die,” she said.