A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ladan Salihu, has cautioned Nigerians against taking the assurances of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, at face value.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Monday, Salihu addressed the controversy surrounding the alleged denial of the ADC’s request to use the Eagles Square in Abuja for its national convention. Wike had earlier dismissed the claims, insisting that no formal application had been submitted by the party.
Salihu countered the minister’s statement, asserting that the ADC had indeed made formal and informal contacts with relevant authorities, including those associated with security at the venue and major hotels in the Federal Capital Territory. He emphasized the symbolic importance of the Eagles Square, describing it as the national emblem of political cohesion and democracy, conceived by former military leader Ibrahim Babangida and completed under Abdulsalami Abubakar. The venue has historically been used for significant political events, including the inauguration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and has been accessible to political parties regardless of the ruling government.
“This is the shame of a nation that the main opposition political party is clearly denied the privilege and the right to undertake our convention there,” Salihu said.
His remarks underscore growing tensions between the ADC and the FCT administration, with implications for political inclusivity and the use of public spaces for democratic processes in Nigeria.
