The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike has vowed that he would not allow blackmail to hinder him from fulfilling his responsibilities in transforming the nation’s capital.
During an inspection visit on Saturday to the IBB International Golf and Country Club in Abuja, his first visit to the facility, the former governor of Rivers State Governor assured that he would restore the centre’s fading glory.
‘We will not allow anybody to take what belongs to the federal government. No amount of blackmail will change me. If anyone moves to sabotage me, I will take you out. Government is not a good manager hence why we appointed the interim management committee. You can’t take over the club because we appointed you to manage the club’, he said.
Wike further said that he would begin the renovation of the club with the club house, while reminding them of paying ground rent when necessary.
‘We will invite Julius Berger who originally built this club to see how we can begin the renovation in phases. I will seal the club if the ground rent is not paid,’ he said.
Chairperson of the club’s Board for Trustees (BoT(, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem appealed to the minster to give the club urgent intervention.
Dongban-Mensem, who is also the President of the Court of Appeal, said that the club, when renovated would improve the economy.
‘The club needs urgent intervention to align with the renewed hope agenda. The intervention of this facility will improve the economy of this country.. It can be part of tourism sector and it will also improve the status of Nigeria within the comity of nations’, she said.
The club was shut down indefinitely following an escalating crisis over governance and structural reforms.
Renowned as one of Nigeria’s most prestigious golf destinations, the IBB Club has been embroiled in a leadership crisis tied to the appointment of a new BoT and proposed amendments to its constitution.
