A group, the Niger Delta Youth Forum NDYF has condemned the demolition of the over N700 million naira Guzape Hills, Abuja building of Prince Joseph Egbri (Prince Kpokpogri) on the 14th of May, 2022.
The demolition which was carried out in flagrant disregard of the right to own property as guaranteed under section 43 of the 1999 constitution and by the operatives of the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory, Federal Capital Development Authority, Federal Housing Authority, offends reason and should be discouraged by every right-thinking individual.
The group through Mr. Nathan Ebidou and Frank Seiyefa, the National leader and Secretary of the group respectively, maintained that it is saddening how the operatives of the said Ministry in alliance with the various authorities connived with Honourable Musa Bello, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, in facilitating the deliberate victimization of Mr. Kpokpogri.
According to the group,
“The demolition of the multi-million naira building standing erect on the Guzape hills, was done under the pretext of being constructed on the land marked out for road construction. It makes it laughable and more appalling that the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory made itself a willing tool and a foremost player in the politics of victimization being deliberately played against the Niger Deltans in Abuja and by extension Nigeria.
“Nigeria being an heterogeneous country should accommodate different languages, interests and tribes. It continues to operate against what defines it if all it does is to continue to operate in the sole interest of the northerners while also operating at the detriment of the hardworking Niger Detans or southern people.
They further say,
“Joseph Egbri (Prince Kpokpogri), a respected son of Isoko, in Delta State grew to be prominent due to his hardwork, philanthropy and activism. The accomplished business tycoon and Magazine Publisher has been approached and had turned down on different occasions offers by 5 powerful northerners to purchase his princely Abuja property.”
The group believes the F.C.T Minister to be out on a hatchet mission, it also holds the federal government responsible for this highly dehumanizing act. It is challenging it and the Inspector General of Police to quickly rise to the situation by investigating or calling the federal minister to order.
The ministry is further challenged to produce with immediate effect the documents addressed as notice to the owner prior to the demolition of 14th May, including the succour provided for by the federal government in replacement of the demolished building. NDYF faults the payments obtained by the ministry in respect to the land and also holds that the land was legally approved by the federal ministry.
