By Kolawole Ojebisi
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said he will not dignify his detractors’ criticisms with further explanation over the judges’ quarters construction project.
Wike spoke in Abuja on Friday during an inspection tour of the judges’ quarters construction site and connecting road in Katampe district.
Wike had, in September, flagged off the construction of 40 houses for judges in Abuja, a development that has since sparked public outrage.
He said 20 of the houses, when completed, would be allocated to judges of the FCT high court, while 10 would be given to the judges of the federal high court and 10 to those of the court of appeal.
The minister has since come under criticism as many Nigerians perceived his move to build houses for judges as a ploy to sway the judiciary for political gain. Among his critics is Deji Adeyanju who recently criticized Wike for allegedly grabbing people’s land.
Also, another Prominent critic of Wike’s gesture was a legal luminary, Femi Falana, who described the action as “illegal”
On November 14, Wike denied claims that houses for judges were meant to influence them politically, adding that it is part of President Bola Tinubu’s welfare packages to promote judicial independence.
Meanwhile, despite Wike’s explanation the criticisms have been unrelenting as the number of those faulting the minister’s move grows by the day
While reacting to the unrelenting criticisms despite his initial explanation, Wike said he’s not bothered adding that most of his critics are incompetent at doing any other thing apart from criticising.
“Once you have a provisional approval to go ahead and the backing of the national assembly, what’s my business with those who are criticising?” Wike asked.
“Who are those criticising? I don’t think of that; I am not bothered. These are people who, even when you give them the opportunity, cannot do anything. So, forget about those criticisms.
“If you have not done it, they are the ones that will complain that the environment in which our judges and justices are working is not conducive.
“Now we are trying to provide an environment that will make them work well. They are saying, Oh! And given another reason. Don’t bother yourself; just move on and do your work.
“So, I’m not bothered about the so-called criticism. It does not exist where I am.”
