 Well, we are on now to take our first hard topic and we'll be as brief as possible But let's try to address what the issues are the former governor of River State Nesong Wike is in charge at the FCT and If you're talking about FCT and talking about Wike you'll be talking about Demolitions and a lot of people Are not very very comfortable with his modus operandi in the FCT But legal luminaries like Fermi Faleno and Adebo Rua have come out to say Wike is not answerable to the National Assembly at all and We have as our guests this morning. Mr. Biodon show me who is a political analyst Good morning and welcome to the program. Mr. Show me Good morning. Thank you for having me. Yes, let's look at how Wike is behaving in FCT a lot of people say he's very harsh and shouldn't be that harsh a lot of other people are saying that he should have Concentrated on something else rather than what he's doing Demolishing a lot of places that he feels or that he says are not supposed to have buildings there He's demolishing markets demolishing even private houses that seem to stand Against the master plan of the FCT comment on the modus operandi of the new FCT minister before we move on We all know wiki as the governor of reverse that wiki is not How this way of doing things even though he's a lawyer wiki is Very brash and very harsh in his approach to issues In relation to governance particularly things which he disagrees with in the case of the demolition going on currently Many of the demolitions were already Hairmarked many of the places were already hairmarked for demolition even before wiki himself came into office It's putting effects. It takes a lot of courage to do that, but at the same time He needs to refine is a push, you know to issues you cannot afford to present yourself as Hard less or as insensitive to the plight and feelings of those who would be at the receiving end even though Many of them may have deliberately contraven the law or through corrupments manage to obtain planning permission and all that but the fact of the matter is So many thousands of people will either be without a place to trade or without Accommodation and in any case is going to drive up the cost of accommodation in Abuja So one would have expected a minister who is like a governor of that FCT you know to deal with those issues more sensitively than how wiki is approaching economy But the part of the matter is Those who are violating the law know exactly what the consequences will be wiki is not responsible for their actions They are primarily responsible for the actions and secondly wiki has not signed Anything all these demolitions that are ongoing were already hairmarked for the mission, but It didn't happen before we came but it it takes a man of courage to be able to do that Wiki only needs to refine, you know his approach a little bit. He set his target also to be the building a defeating a rail station, you know for You know a train service, you know for Abuja Many governments have tried to do that. They've not been able to do that. If wiki can do that We can win more minds, you know and hearts That then those who would actually eat for what he's doing currently, but the truth of the matter is he's sanitizing Abuja People thought Connected you start erecting structures We need to go back, you know restore some sanity and that is what he's trying to do in Abuja But I mean not necessarily agree with the status Okay, but how how sensitive can you be to Someone who has built for instance where a road should pass and he shouldn't do that Sensitivity will it mean that you will have to carry this house to another place. You will still demolish it. So it's I'm talking about being sensitive within the context of the ongoing reforms taking place in the country that has brought Some pains which even the president acknowledged through Nigerians, you know I'm more concerned about the market rather than individual building houses of public works of public back You know about the markets and so that we don't have more people Out of a means of handling a lighting I'll be more comfortable. I don't have the full facts. Maybe the FCT Authorities have actually a muddy different for market. I don't have the full facts on that Or maybe they have even constructed markets to people too. I don't have the full fact But based on the limited information I have I'm only concerned about that aspect of not taking more people out of friend means of friend and in the light you within the realities of the current economy pains Okay, well, there is this fight. That's the real topic. We're talking about there's just fight I would like to call it that between the the FCT minister and the person representing the FCT in the national assembly That's talking about King Igwe now who has said that he shouldn't do what he is doing and the lawyers senior lawyers have come out to say that He is not answerable that is the minister of the FCT is not answerable to the National Assembly or even to the member representing the FCT in the National Assembly but his only Interaction Is to defend the budget yes We case like the governor of FCT whether we like it or not is exercising the powers of the president, which is the executive power by courtesy of the president appointment and the Assembly and the functions of the House of Assembly be that of national so it is not the business of National Assembly You know to play the executive But really the business of the executive to play that role in a taking the way is wrong I align myself with the submissions of Falano and the other goer on this very issue Because the country is very clear. It's stated clearly who should be in charge of the FCT and who should Perform the legislative functions with it as crime to national assembly. So therefore For it can give me a to think that as a senator She or the National Assembly will have a major role to play in executive functions. I don't agree with that I think she's wrong. I think she needs to go back and check the constitution again we case doing the right thing and He's entrusted with a responsibility and it's exercising the powers of the governor as bested in the president in relation to So how does checks and balances come into this Into this situation because in the state you have the state assemblies That will also be looking into what the executive is doing. They are supposed to also serve as a Guide so that he will not overdo what he's not supposed to do But in the FCT we don't have that kind of a thing. So how do we have checks and balances in the FCT? We do the Constitution empowers the National Assembly in relation to FCT Functions of the House of Assembly that is exactly how the states are to be regulated No, sorry not regulation, you know, the oversight functions, you know I carried out is the same duty imposed on National Assembly by the Constitution in relation to FCT That is the National Assembly shall act, you know, as if it's the House of Assembly in relation to FCT So they still carry out the oversight functions, but they do not have the authority to carry out executive functions the legislative for the FCT The leg the legislation and not in a law for FCT is the responsibility of National Assembly Carrying out oversight function is the responsibility of National Assembly But in terms of executive discharge of functions, that is the job of the Minister of FCT Or the president has stated in the Constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria. So within that context we case another What if they the fail to Sign his budget will it not clip his wing? They cannot fail to sign the budget except there's problem with the budget There's a problem with the budget that will be it will get fixed if they can run aboujah Federal Capital Territory National Assembly said it's located in aboujah. They'll be affected, you know by The the the absence of a budget So the fact of the matter is that so many workers Thousands of workers have been affected so many residents will be affected. I can't see the National Assembly doing that What they can do is to look at his projects and say, okay We want to know how you intend to spend this or you cannot spend money without it being appropriated That's what they can do But it will never be in anybody's interest for any parliament, you know to To deprive the executive from the front or the judiciary or the funds to run them otherwise Democracy will collapse so I can't see that happening what they can scrutinize the budget They have the right to appropriate No for FZT. No, that's about it. But they do not have the right to carry out executive functions Yeah, but this is not carrying out executive function, you know You have a budget to get all the things that you need to dismantle or to demolish all the houses Which eventually may affect a lot of the senators and the House of Reps members and they say This is too insensitive. We're not signing at this moment. That's what I'm just saying Sometimes it can happen that way Yes, but we do not need the permission of National Assembly To carry out demolition which are clearly in contravention of Of abuja There are demolitions Should be carried out the consent of people or they may have obtained, you know A Go ahead order from court. I don't think they need to go ahead from the national assembly when it comes to demolition And there is no without the national assembly can stop the executive, you know from enforcing the power E-billosses don't build on public rule that you build on it. You should know the risk they are taking So but there is also a procedure for that which is to avoid the executive recklessness Um You know to remove electric structures, you know, there are procedures. It depends on which state of the You may have to solve contravention which is you know staff starts the process of enforcement, which Is not does not happen overnight. So then they have complied with them They were fully aware, you know that those structures would be moved and that's why they're being removed current Okay. Uh, well, um, you did say something about sensitivity. Um, just a final one and briefly too Now that people are being displaced people are going to lose their homes People are going to lose their jobs. Do you do you subscribe to any form of palliative? What do you think the federal capital territory? Authority should do to make sure the suffering of the people who are going to be displaced Uh will be lessened There are two steps that can be taken. One is the government has already Indicated his intention to do that which is to provide more houses For the people is not only with the view to accommodate Those who will be displaced through the demolition What would they be to bring down the cost of renting properties which are is going Out of hand, uh, it's getting to a state that many people cannot afford to be without So obviously abuja is short for houses. The second step is in relation to the market Um, clearly if there is no like I said, I don't have full information on the market situation in abuja if the abuja fct has not provided a place for people to trade Or market then need to do that with the being Stalls you know for Trader that we can Many people or some people again But the truth of the matter is we need to be able to follow True on all plans in in relation to contravation. Otherwise, Nigeria will become a job Everybody can move on the public road and start building on it thinking nothing would happen So we need some sanity in that one that is I see the efforts of wiki within that contest of is turning sanity, but then it has to be done sensitive Okay, thank you so much. Mr. Biodon show me for coming on the show today. We thank you for your insights into The questions asked Thank you for having me We've been talking with Mr. Biodon show me a political analyst talking with us here in Lagos We'll take a very short break and return with a second hot topic. Stay with us