Posted by By Francis Awowole-Browne, Abuja on
President Umar Yar'Adua may have overruled the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai on some demolitions within the capital city as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ahmadu Ali began the reconstruction of one of his houses, which had been partly pulled down on the order of the former minister shortly before he left office.
President Umar Yar'Adua may have overruled the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir El-Rufai on some demolitions within the capital city as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Ahmadu Ali began the reconstruction of one of his houses, which had been partly pulled down on the order of the former minister shortly before he left office.
Hints that the president had indeed, asked the federal capital authorities to hands off the demolition emerged when it was noticed that re-construction work has commenced on the storey building on 8, Abubakar Koko in the eyebrow Asokoro district of the city, belonging to the party boss, which was already being pulled down by the Development Control Unit of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA)
Enquiry indicated that the unit was directed to suspend further demolition of Dr. Ali's house and pull out its bulldozers with immediate effect.
When Daily Sun checked at the house on Wednesday, some construction workers were seen busy fixing back the aluminium windows, with internal fittings going on as openings for the air conditioners were being remoulded. These were the portions that had been removed during the demolition exercise.
The house was the second to be affected in the demolition of houses on the grounds that they were built on sewer line and therefore improper to remain in the interest of the people.
The first house of Ali to be pulled down was also a storey building on number 6, in the same street and was demolished completely last May 16.
The demolition generated controversies as the former minister claimed he was insulted by the party chairman over the development even when he had informed him (Ali) before hand and that he would be compensated adequately.