Why PDP's Land Revocation Is Bigger Than It Seems

Who's to Blame for the PDP's Land Woes?

Let's get real for a moment. Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communication and New Media, isn't mincing words when it comes to the People's Democratic Party (PDP). He's throwing shade at the party's elders, like Bode George, saying they're the ones who dropped the ball when it came to paying ground rent for nearly three decades. This whole mess started after the federal government revoked the land title for the PDP's national secretariat in Abuja. Now, everyone's pointing fingers, and it's getting pretty heated.

Wike's Team Speaks Out

According to Naija News, Olayinka made his position crystal clear in a statement on March 22, 2025. He basically said it was ridiculous for Bode George, who was part of the PDP's National Working Committee (NWC), to accuse the Minister, Nyesom Wike, of crossing a "red line" on national TV. Here's the kicker: George was part of the team that failed to finalize the purchase of the Wadata Plaza National Secretariat all those years ago. How does that even happen?

In a fiery interview on Arise Television, Bode George didn't hold back. He accused Wike of declaring war against the PDP. But Olayinka shot back, saying it was heartbreaking to see elders like George ignore such an obvious issue. The truth is, not paying ground rent for 43 years? That's a big deal, and it affects more than just the PDP.

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Who Really Owns the Wadata Plaza?

Olayinka took the opportunity to clarify something important: the PDP doesn't actually own the Wadata Plaza. That property belongs to Senator Samaila Mamman Kurfi, who bought it from Wadata Enterprises Nigeria Limited. So when the PDP was using it as their secretariat, they were technically borrowing space. That's a fact that seems to have gotten lost in the shuffle.

Olayinka also had some advice for Bode George. He suggested that instead of airing grievances on TV, George should take a step back and gather all the facts. Acting like an objective elder and seeking information might have prevented this whole mess from escalating into a public feud.

Key Questions That Need Answers

Olayinka posed some thought-provoking questions in his statement:

Why didn't the PDP pay ground rent for 20 years on Plot No. 243, which is the only property the party truly owns among the 4,794 revoked titles? How is the government enforcing the rules on ground rent payments considered an act of war? Should the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under Wike have treated the PDP differently than the other 4,794 land title owners whose titles were revoked for the same reason?

Back in 2005, the PDP tried to buy the Wadata Plaza property. They were asked to pay N26.9 million for Minister's Consent, but they never followed through. Instead, they wrote a letter to then-FCT Minister Malam Nasir El-Rufai, asking him to waive the payment. They claimed they couldn't afford it, but El-Rufai stood firm, insisting the party pay up. And guess what? Bode George didn't take to national TV to accuse El-Rufai of declaring war back then. So why now?

Fast forward to the PDP's national secretariat in the Central Area. They owed a mere N7.6 million in ground rent for 20 years, despite raising over N21 billion in 2014 to complete the building. Is this Wike's fault? Or should the PDP have been more responsible with their finances?

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It's About More Than Just the PDP

Olayinka pointed out that this wasn't just about the PDP. Other big players like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), and even state governments were affected by the revocation. The list goes on, including institutions like the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). This wasn't a targeted attack; it was a broader enforcement of the rules.

If Bode George were in Wike's shoes, would he have treated the PDP any differently? Or would he have done the same thing for the sake of fairness and accountability?

At the end of the day, this whole situation is a reminder that accountability matters. Whether you're a political party, a government institution, or a private citizen, paying your dues is non-negotiable. Let's hope this serves as a wake-up call for everyone involved.