SOLOMONS Opposition leader Matthew Wale has called on the Minister of Lands & HousingIshmael Avui to apologise and resign from his portfolio.

Failing which, Wale says, the Prime Minister should immediately remove Avui from Cabinet.

The call comes after In-depth Solomons exposed Avui’s threat to slap the Commissioner of Lands, Alan McNeil, if he did not comply with the minister’s demand to grant government land and a house to his close political crony.

The Opposition Leader said the minister who is a long-time senior public servant simply knows better.

Wale urged the Prime Minister to sack the minister if he fails to resign from Cabinet.

“The threat of violence made by the minister is a criminal offence and the commissioner of police must investigate,” he said.

McNeil has reported the threat to both the police and the Office of the Prime Minister.

Further, Wale called on the Leadership Code Commission to look into the possibility of misconduct in office by Minister Avui.

The Opposition Leader said the Minister has brought the name of the Government into disrepute.

Wale adds that government policy is very clear that there is no sale of government houses.

He said it is extremely disturbing that the minister himself is threatening violence against the commissioner to force him to breach government policy.

The Minister cited humanitarian grounds as the basis for his demand but Wale said this is a mere cover up to reward a political crony. 

“If this is valid ground then there are many retired public servants that should be accorded such opportunity,” he said.

Avuia earlier told In-depth Solomons he wanted the government land and house allocated to former public servant John Ada based on humanitarian grounds.

He claimed Ada was a long-serving public servant who retired on medical grounds and is still staying in the house.