Re-distribute 753 Seized Duplexes to Homeless Abuja Residents, Left Group Tells FG

By Chinedu Echianu

A coalition of Left-Wing Groups under the aegis of Network of Abuja Left Groups, has called for the redistribution of the 753 duplexes in the Lokogoma District of Abuja, seized from former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emiefele, to homeless and displaced persons in Abuja.

This is contained in a statement released in Abuja and jointly signed by heads of ten left wing organizations such as Omole Ibukun of Creative Change Centre; Salako Kayode of Revolutionary Socialist Movement; Abu Oghenero of Socialist Workers League; Gerald Katchy of Committee for the Defence of Human Rights; Comrade Destiny Destiny of Civil Rights Council; Chinedu Chinedu of Movement for African Emancipation; Maxwell Adeyemi of Socialist Labour; Adaramoye Michael Lenin of Democratic Socialist Movement and Daniel Akande of Solidarity Network for Worker’s Rights.

The group warned against the planned auctioning of the duplexes but insisted on a democratic re-distribution.
They say the re-distribution should involve elected representatives of civil society, trade unions, the chiefdoms and communities around Lokogoma, students and youths, informal sector workers, and market women and traders in the area.

The group added that it is only a democratic process of re-distribution that can ensure that true justice is done in the financial corruption perpetuated by the former CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

The statement read in parts, “We, the Network of Abuja Left Groups, issue this urgent statement in response to the recent forfeiture of 753 duplexes in Abuja’s Lokogoma District, previously linked to former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele. This estate, spanning over 150,000 square meters, represents the largest single asset recovery by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since its inception, and the magnitude of this recovery shows the depth of the systemic corruption that has plagued our nation’s leadership and emphasizes our case for a total social transformation of Nigeria.

“The prevailing discussion in the media around this recovered asset is mainly the suggestion of auctioning these properties to low- and middle-income Nigerians or allocating them to government officials. While these proposals may appear beneficial on the surface, they perpetuate the long-standing commodification of basic human needs like housing and they fail to address the root causes of housing inequality.

“We, in the Abuja Left Groups, advocate for the direct, non-commercial repurposing of these homes into community-owned housing for the homeless and displaced people of Abuja who have been the victims of the insensitive demolitions without compensation or reallocation that have become the major highlight of the Wike-APC FCTA Administration.

“Housing is not merely a physical structure but a space that nurtures safety, autonomy, and community, and any FCTA administration or Federal government that takes the security of Abuja serious, must invest in the housing welfare of the people.

“We demand that a democratic and inclusive process to achieve that must commence immediately. We believe that the repossession of the Lokogoma duplexes for the people presents a unique opportunity to redefine property relations in Nigeria, and to build a society rooted in justice, equity, and solidarity.

“We call upon all Nigerians to, therefore, support our call for a democratic redistribution process for these duplexes that involves representatives of civil society, trade unions, elected community representatives of the chiefdoms around Lokogoma, students and youths, informal workers, and marketwomen and traders in the area. We wish to state that it is only this democratic process of redistribution that can ensure that true justice is done in the financial corruption of Godwin Emefiele.”