Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media to Nyesom Wike, the former governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has staunchly defended the minister’s decision to revoke a disputed land plot in Abuja.
In an interview shared on Channels Television’s official X handle on November 12, 2025, Olayinka accused retired Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo of falling victim to a scam orchestrated by a company that illegally subdivided and sold government-allocated land.
According to Olayinka, the land in question was originally allocated to Santos Estate Limited in 2007 for park and recreational purposes. However, the plot is situated in a road corridor, rendering it unsuitable for development.
Olayinka revealed that in 2022, Santos Estate Limited sought approval from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to convert the land’s purpose to commercial use, but the then-Minister of FCT denied the request. Undeterred, the company proceeded to sell portions of the land for residential development, with Gambo purchasing one of these plots.
He criticized Gambo for deploying soldiers to obstruct Wike’s enforcement team, which included police and bulldozers, instead of resorting to legal avenues.
He emphasized that the land lies within a protected parkway corridor, making it inappropriate for private housing projects. Olayinka argued that Gambo’s actions escalated the situation unnecessarily, highlighting the need for lawful resolution.
According to Lere Olayinka:
“The former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo (retd.) was scammed. Instead of him to come out and seek help, he resolved to using military might.”
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