The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has strongly criticized Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike for allocating the historic Old Parade Ground in Area 10, Abuja, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) for its new national secretariat, labeling the move as “executive recklessness and abuse of power.”
The SDP urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately revoke the allocation to preserve national heritage and public trust.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by SDP National Publicity Secretary Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, the party expressed alarm over the decision to permanently hand over a national monument—used for civic, cultural, and national events—to a political party.
Aiyenigba highlighted that on August 8, 2025, Wike approved a two-hectare portion of the Parade Ground, Plot 4742 in Cadastral Zone A01, Garki District, for the APC, with both the Right of Occupancy and Certificate of Occupancy issued on the same day.
The SDP called this process “highly irregular and suspicious,” noting it bypassed standard administrative procedures and waived statutory fees.
The SDP emphasized the historical significance of the Old Parade Ground, a national monument predating Eagle Square, arguing it should be preserved for future generations.
The party alleged that Wike’s decision stemmed from President Tinubu’s directive during the APC National Executive Committee meeting on July 24, 2025, to secure a “befitting” secretariat for the ruling party.
“It is a national fraud to allow the FCT Minister to convert a historic facility like the Old Parade Ground into an asset of the ruling party,” Aiyenigba stated, accusing Wike of prioritizing political loyalty over public interest.
The SDP also criticized Wike’s recent actions, such as renaming the Abuja International Conference Centre after Tinubu, as further evidence of his “overboard attempts to please” the president.
The SDP condemned the allocation as unpatriotic and a violation of due process, urging Nigerians to oppose the misuse of national assets for partisan purposes.
“Rather than building new infrastructure, Wike is converting national heritage into political gifts,” the statement read.
The party called on President Tinubu to reverse the allocation and urged public officials to uphold transparency and accountability.
“Citizens must not stand by as our national heritage is gifted to political parties with reckless abandon,” Aiyenigba added.
The SDP reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s national assets and ensuring governance respects the public interest.
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