ABUJA — A supremacy battle is raging at the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory (MFCT) where Minister Nasir El-Rufai’s sacking of the board of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) under the administrative headship of the Executive Secretary, Engineer Charles Dorgu is yet to fully take effect.
Mallam Rufai had announced the dissolution of the Board of the FCDA, claiming that President Olusegun Obasanjo had given approval for the action. His move followed some hints dropped by the President at the June 23 Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting that the boards of federal government parastatals would soon be dissolved.
In dissolving the FCDA Board, El-Rufai, according to feelers in MFCT circles, had capitalized on what he considered as the right opportunity to ease out Engr. Dorgu, who has purportedly been opposed to the rushed implementation of the restructuring plan and some new policies, particularly in respect of the recovery of the distorted Abuja master plan, out of his way.
By that decision, the minister has also sacked the chairman of the FCDA Board, Senator Olu Alabi. However, Engr. Dorgu, whom he had allegedly designated as “Coordinating” Executive Secretary, as learnt, has refused to hand over to the Executive Director (Works and Technical), Engr. Alhassan, who was appointed acting Executive Secretary by El-Rufai.
It was learnt that Engr. Dorgu, whose tenure is supposed to expire in 2005, having assumed office in 2001, is holding onto his seat, refusing to hand over to the appointed acting Executive Secretary until the Presidency says so.
Sources hinted that the bureaucracy at the MFCT from the permanent secretary down, who is not happy with El-Rufai’s style of administration, has emboldened Engr. Dorgu to hold onto his seat until he hears directly from either President Obasanjo or Vice President Atiku Abubakar on the matter.
Vanguard also gathered that in a bid to facilitate the movement of Dorgu out of the FCDA, the minister was said to have written a letter asking him (Dorgu) to report to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Uffot Ekaete for redeployment. But when Dorgu confronted Ekaete with the said letter, he said he had not seen any such letter. The SGF, according to sources close to the development, had asked Dorgu to remain in his office until he receives specific directives from the Presidency.
It would be recalled that a proposal had been on before last week’s action by El-Rufai to reshuffle the FCDA, including the removal of Engr. Dorgu as Executive Secretary.
But the South-South Peoples Progressive Forum (FCT Chapter) led by its President General, Chief Patrick Ibe Iduh had kicked against the proposal then, arguing that Engr. Dorgu has not completed his four year tenure as spelt out in his contract appointment.
