Wike asked to demolish Aso villa, military barracks

The call to demolish iconic structures such as Aso Rock and military barracks within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has sparked controversy and captured the public’s attention. This unusual demand was made by Daniel Bwala, an aide to Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

Bwala argued that demolishing these structures was essential to ensure strict adherence to the original Abuja master plan, a priority set by the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike. While acknowledging the importance of preserving the city’s planned development, he also raised concerns about the potential disruption and broader implications of such a move.

In his statement, Bwala said, “The FCT is not like the Ministry of Works; it is an Administration. There are many more important things than demolition that make up the Administration of the FCT.”

He continued, “Let’s even start with the demolition. Wike said he wants to go back to the original Master Plan. If we may talk about the original Master Plan, let me tell you that the Aso Villa that sits the President, the seat of power is not in the original Master Plan, it must go down. Secondly, all the military barracks that you see within the FCT are not in the original Master Plan; then the military barracks must go down. Thirdly, the famous Asokoro you are hearing and the extension where all the governors in Nigeria either have liaison offices or their private homes, they are not in the original plan, they must go down. There are many Federal Government assets and buildings in strategic places that are not in the original Master Plan.”