I Would Rather Die Than To Beg Mr President For The Preservation Of My Husband’s Estate–Rita Ogbebor

Rita Lori Ogbebor, the widow of the late Colonel Paul Ogbebor, has expressed her deep frustration and anger over the ongoing land dispute involving her late husband’s estate, Paullosa Nigeria Limited, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) authorities. The estate, located in the Gwarimpa District of Lifecamp, Abuja, is facing a demolition notice issued by the authorities. In a press conference held in Abuja, Ogbebor made it clear that she would never appeal to President Bola Tinubu or the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for intervention in the matter, despite the ongoing demolition activities in the city.

According to The Punch, Ogbebor, who is 84 years old, emphasized that it would be beneath her to request assistance from the president or anyone else in power, particularly given her husband’s pivotal role in the early development of Abuja. She recalled how her late husband, an engineer, was given a piece of land to contribute to the city’s growth. Ogbebor also questioned why, after 42 years, the estate was being targeted for demolition and reallocation, allegedly to someone named Chinda, a figure with no apparent connection to the long history of the land.

The land dispute, which has caused significant distress to Ogbebor and other residents of the Paullosa estate, has drawn attention to broader issues of land ownership and development in Abuja. Ogbebor pointed out the irony of the situation, highlighting that the person now being given control of the land was not even born when her husband began his work in the capital. She noted that such actions were disrespectful to her husband’s legacy and to her as an elderly woman who had witnessed the transformation of the city over decades.

Despite mounting criticisms of the demolitions and calls for a halt to the activities, Minister Wike has remained steadfast in his stance, claiming that the demolitions are necessary to enforce zoning laws and land use regulations in the FCT. Wike has even gone as far as to say, “Let heaven fall,” indicating his determination to continue with the demolition efforts regardless of the public outcry.

She also suggested that those close to President Tinubu, such as advisors and influential figures, should recognize people like her husband, who contributed significantly to the development of the country, and step in to resolve the issue. In her view, the continued efforts to demolish the estate are not only a violation of her family’s rights but also a betrayal of the contributions made by her late husband to the city’s growth.

Ogbebor made it clear that she would rather die than go before the president to beg for the preservation of her family’s estate. She rejected the notion of appealing to the president, choosing instead to leave the matter to those around him who might understand the significance of her family’s role in the development of Abuja.

In her words, “after 42 years, they want to demolish it and give it to Chinda? Who is Chinda?. If you take Chinda’s age today and the period we have been here, Chinda was only 14 years old. And so is Wike. Is that not belittling of me at the age of 84, to go and meet the president, ‘Mr. President, someone in my country is demolishing my house? No. I would rather die.”