Posted by By FRANCIS AWOWOLE-BROWNE, Abuja on
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, says that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Umaru Yar'Adua, will be tougher than President Olusegun Obasanjo when he becomes president.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, says that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Umaru Yar'Adua, will be tougher than President Olusegun Obasanjo when he becomes president.
According to him, Yar'Adua would prosecute the present administration's policy thrusts with more vigour.
The minister, who addressed a world press conference in Abuja on Tuesday to commemorate the end of the 30th anniversary celebration of Abuja, spoke against the background of feelings in some quarters that Yar'Adua would be a lily-livered president if elected into office in April. He said that those who think so would be disappointed.
Mallam El-Rufai said that enforcement and implementation of top policies of the Obasanjo government was a continuous process, adding that those wishing to draw back the hands of the clock would not have their way, as the PDP would win the coming elections.
He alleged that some of the FCT policies, like the ban on operation of commercial motorcycles, were already being flouted, adding that even when he leaves office, his successor would implement the policy thrust of the FCT administration and development.
Said the minister: "The enforcement is a continuous process. Unless you continue, the people will flout the law and this is why we will not relent. The next minister of FCT will be worse than me. In fact, Umaru (PDP presidential candidate) will be tougher. And I know these people will vote for us because they know we are doing the right thing."
On the allegation by Deputy Senate Leader, Jonathan Zwingina, that the motive behind the demolition of his house on Monday was political, the minister said the senator was being economical with the truth over the matter.
He explained that Zwingina acquired his land against the provision of the Abuja master plan, through one Engr. Success, who is now being probed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He said that the senator lobbied his predecessor to obtain the Certificate of Occupancy without due process, adding that no building with the same problem was spared in the demolition and therefore, Zwingina had no claim whatsoever.
"The problem of our people is that when they do something wrong and you catch them, they will begin to whip up sentiments, saying it is because of the ethnic or religion or political party they belong, knowing that it is not true. Senator Zwingina can attribute whatever motives he wants to the demolition. Is Admiral Ogoi, whose property was also affected a politician? Zwingina and I belong to the same political party. He contested the gubernatorial primaries in Adamawa under PDP and lost. We will do what we have to do. It has nothing to do with politics," he stressed.
Mallam el-Rufai disclosed that 389 cases of land use contravention have been identified so far in the FCT, especially in the high brow areas, like Maitama, Wuse II and Garki, while pointing out that some of the contraveners are responding positively to the approved land use and paying the necessary charges.
He disagreed with the population figure ascribed to the FCT by the National Population Commission (NPC), saying that it is lower than the six million projected figures for the city, noting that many people were not counted during the exercise and that the NPC had accepted the fact.
He said even if people traveled to their states for the purpose of the census, "I don't think about three million people would have travelled as the figure indicated, but we have not been given the details of the exercise."