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Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has stated that Wadata Plaza does not belong to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
According to him, the party has failed to pay the required N26.9 million ground rent since 2005.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Tuesday, Olayinka criticized PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, for claiming that the revocation of the party’s land title was a threat to democracy.
He described Ologunagba as “the most incompetent National Publicity Secretary the PDP has ever produced.”
Olayinka clarified that while Wike remains a PDP member, he has never been involved in the party’s administration. He noted that the responsibility for meeting financial obligations lies with the party leadership.
He also expressed surprise at comments made by PDP chieftain, Chief Bode George, who had previously held a key position in the party when the ground rent was left unpaid.
Revealing that many party members were unaware of the plaza’s ownership status, Olayinka admitted that he himself only learned the details recently.
He explained that the property belongs to Senator Samaila Mamman Kurfi, and while PDP attempted to purchase it in 2005, it failed to meet the financial requirements.
According to Olayinka, PDP had written to the then FCT Minister, Nasir El-Rufai, requesting approval for the purchase.
However, when asked to pay N26.9 million in fees, the party declined, citing a lack of funds.
Despite being in power at the time, PDP never completed the transaction, leaving the property under Kurfi’s ownership.
He further criticized Ologunagba’s stance, arguing that the party’s National Working Committee should be aware that Wadata Plaza is not legally PDP’s property.
Dismissing claims that Wike’s actions were politically motivated, Olayinka insisted that the FCT Minister was serving the Nigerian government, not the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He maintained that PDP members in the administration were working for the country rather than for any political party.