By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
An Elder Statesman and Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr Alex Kadiri has cautioned the Federal Government over wanton demolitions and revocation of properties in the Federal Capital Territory which may have dire consequences on the polity.
Speaking against the backdrop of recent activities and utterances of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over demolitions and revocation of properties, Kadiri urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to be cautious of its actions and inactions.
Sen. Alex Kadiri, an APC stalwart who represented Kogi East Senatorial District from 1999 to 2003 at National Assembly urged APC should not to set Nigeria on fire.
“The issue is an issue that is bordering Nigerians right now and as a senior citizen, I can not see my country going down the hill and I do not say nothing.
“The Way, Wike the Minister of FCT is talking down on people is bad, that is not how we won the election. May be that was how he won his own election in Rivers State but that is not how we won election across the country, you should be civil.
“Threatening people all the time, you will revoke this, you will revoke that. Haba, that is not how to run governance, unlike David Umahi in the Ministry of Works, he is working without talking.
“Wike is talking, doing nothing everyday on television, I will demolish, I will revoke. At my age if I see things and I keep quiet God will never forgive me.
“Yesterday, I watched Etsu Nupe on Television talking about the demolition of the Central Mosque in Abuja, he was trying to disabuse the minds of Muslims that it is a rumour, that the Minister never said anything like that.
“He was smiling, very gentle, urbane, very civilised but I can assure Nigerians and my party people that the next person that will discuss this issue will not smile like Yahaya Abubarkar, the person will not be urbane, the country will be on fire. Wike should not start a fight he can not finish.
“They have given you appointment but please Nigerians are not slaves of APC, dont threaten anybody.
“Look, dont set fire in a place you can not quench. Etsu Nupe is an urbane man, rich in talent, civilised and experienced. The next man may not be a man like Etsu Nupe and Tinubu will have no means of quenching the fire”, Kadiri cautioned.
On the the development in Kogi State, the former Federal Permanent Secretary decried the failure of APC in the state saying, “Look at what is happening in my state, when I speak they say they should expel me, for what? In APC we can not talk again.
“What has APC government done in Kogi State to warrant them fielding a candidate for the next election? Nothing. Yet the National chairman took a delegation to Lokoja, all of them were laughing gleefully. I felt ashamed.
“I wish I could be understood. I have tried to see Tinubu by myself one on one and have not been able but I am good enough to publish it for people to know”, he said.
Kadiri said he made efforts to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over Sundry issues by going through a lot of personalities close to the President but all to no avail.
“My Party should not set this country on fire please, APC should not set Nigeria on fire. Now that I am still able to talk I think it is a great thing to let Nigerians know how I feel”, he said. (Ends)