The widow of late Col. Paul Ogbebor, Mrs Rita Lori Ogbebor, has stated that she prefers to die than beg President Bola Tinubu or the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike over a land dispute in Abuja.
Mrs Ogbebor made the declaration on Friday during a press conference in Abuja, in which she spoke about a demolition notice issued to the residents and management of Paullosa Nigeria Limited, an estate management company owned by her late husband.
She alleged that Wike was only fourteen years old when her husband brought people to work on the land and contributed his quota to the development of Abuja.
According to her, 42 years after, the FCT Minister now wants to take the land, demolish it and give it to someone named Chinda.
The wife of the late military man said those who know her can appeal to the President on her behalf, but she’d rather die than make a personal appeal to Tinubu or Wike over the land dispute.
“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.
Naija News reports the land in question, and others have attracted nationwide attention, which prompted the Senate to instruct Wike on Thursday to halt further demolitions until the details of the matter are considered.
Wike has, however vowed to continue the demolition exercise, insisting that there are many land grabbers in Abuja.