The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has strongly criticized the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, for allocating the historic Old Parade Ground in Area 10, Abuja, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the construction of a new national secretariat.
The opposition party described the move as the “height of executive recklessness and abuse of power,” insisting that such an action undermines both national heritage and public trust. It urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately step in and cancel what it called a grave error of judgment.
In a statement released in Abuja on Monday, SDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Araba Rufus Aiyenigba, expressed deep concern over what he described as the permanent handover of a national monument—one meant to serve civic, cultural, and national functions—to a political organization. He added that the approval was carried out with “unprecedented speed,” bypassing established administrative processes, and even exempting the APC from paying statutory charges that ordinarily should have gone into government coffers.
Aiyenigba revealed that on August 8, 2025, Minister Wike authorized the excision and allocation of two hectares of the Old Parade Ground, identified as Plot 4742 in Cadastral Zone A01, Garki District, to the APC. According to him, both the Right of Occupancy and the Certificate of Occupancy were issued on the very same day, a move the SDP described as “highly irregular and suspicious.”
The party emphasized that the Old Parade Ground is not just an ordinary facility but a national symbol that predates the construction of Eagle Square and holds immense historical significance. It argued that the grounds should be preserved as part of Nigeria’s cultural heritage rather than converted into a political asset.
The SDP further alleged that Wike was merely carrying out President Tinubu’s wishes. It recalled that during the APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on July 24, 2025, the president had openly demanded a befitting party secretariat. The opposition party warned that allowing such directives to be implemented at the expense of national monuments would set a dangerous precedent.
“It is an unacceptable and condemnable national fraud if President Tinubu allows the FCT Minister, in his characteristic recklessness and brashness, to convert a historic facility like the Old Parade Ground into an asset of the ruling party,” the statement read.
The SDP also accused Wike of attempting to ingratiate himself with the president at all costs. It cited his controversial decision to rename the Abuja International Conference Centre after President Tinubu, alongside other projects that have sparked outrage among Nigerians over their cost and intent.
“Rather than focus on building new world-class infrastructure for the nation’s capital, Minister Wike is busy converting national assets into political rewards. This is not only unpatriotic but also a slap in the face of due process and good governance,” the statement continued.
The party called on Nigerians to resist any attempt to convert public monuments into partisan possessions. It insisted that government officials must uphold transparency, accountability, and respect for national heritage.
“No longer should citizens fold their hands and watch as our national heritage is gifted to political parties with reckless abandon,” it said.
Reaffirming its commitment to defending Nigeria’s shared assets, the SDP appealed directly to President Tinubu to reconsider and overturn the allocation of the Old Parade Ground to the APC in the interest of the nation.
What you should know
The Old Parade Ground in Abuja, a landmark site with historical and cultural importance, has been allocated by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to the ruling APC for its new secretariat.
The SDP strongly opposes this move, labeling it a misuse of authority and a threat to national heritage, while urging President Tinubu to reverse the decision.
