The Indigenous people of Abuja, Nigerian Federal Capital Territory, FCT, under the Aegis of Abuja Original Inhabitants Youths Empowerment Organisation, AOIYEO, have called on the incoming Administration under the President-Elect, Sen Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider FCT indigenes for Ministerial appointments.
The group also appealed to the government to recognize FCT as a state so as to ensure equality and development in all spheres of life.
Speaking during its maiden quarterly Town Hall meeting held in Abuja, the coordinator of the group, Mr Kamal Adamu explained that the event was organised for the indigenous people of the FCT to discuss ways of addressing some of the challenges facing the natives and draw government’s attention to the need for FCT to be treated as a State.
On the outcome of their meeting, Mr Kamal noted that the group has resolved to engage the Federal government to give proper consideration to ancestral owners of the land in the FCT to make the natives have a sense of belonging and equal representation in the country.
Commenting on a case delivered by the Court of appeal on the to include Abuja Natives into the Federal Executive council, he said that the Court of Appeal in Abuja had ruled on January 15th 2018 that indigenous people of the FCT were entitled to a Ministerial representation in the Federal Executive council as provided in section 147 (3) 299, 14 (3) and 42 of the 1999 Constitution.
He also stressed the need for the FCT indigenes to be given the right to land ownership and the creation of more tertiary institutions in the FCT to enable indigenous Youths to have easy access to quality education in the FCT.
Also making her point, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Special duties, Farida Suleiman solicited the cooperation of all Nigerians particularly the indigenous people of the FCT to unite themselves and champion a course that would salvage them from being marginalised.
The Minister’s aide stressed that it’s high time for the FCT Natives to come together as a united family and join hands and kick against marginalisation of the original inhabitants of the FCT.
She then urged the indigenous people to reject any person that does not has the interest of the FCT and its people at heart during electioneering campaign period.
According to her, ” we need a second tier of government here in FCT. As a matter of fact we need a representation at the federal executive council which is the highest decision making body in the country “.
Farida who cited an instant with what is obtainable in other places, revealed that ” over 70 percent of the people working in Abeokuta steel company in kogi state are indigene of that place which are mostly the Ebira people and why are we not seeing the same thing here in Abuja? No Nigerian is greater than any other Nigerians”, she observed.
While preaching for peace and United Federal Capital Territory, Farida opined that, “a united minority is stronger than majority that is not united.”
The Indigenous people of Abuja are the people that believe in Nigeria projects and that is why the seat of power is been situated there“, she added.
On his part, the Chief of Staff, Abuja Original Inhabitants Youths Empowerment Organisation, AOIYEO, Abubakar Sadiq Ahmed, noted that though there is a marginalisation of the original inhabitants in the scheme of governance but they still need other Nigerians to coexist together.
According to him ” the prayer of the FCT Natives is simply asking the Court to determine whether Abuja is a State and if it is a State why are they not having Governor and State House of Assembly as obtainable in other thirty six states of the Federation?
He called on Nigerians residing in the FCT to respect the culture and beliefs of the indigenous people of the FCT for the sake of peace and unity.
Commenting on the outcome of the 2023 general elections, Ahmed noted that any body that feels aggrieved with the outcome should approach the court I stead of staging protest in the nation’s capital which he said is uncalled for.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director Abuja Original Inhabitants Youths Empowerment Organisation AOIYEO, Mr Isaac David made it clear to the indigenes that FCT comes first before any political party.
The Executive Director went further to explain that Abuja Natives can’t afford to compromise peace in the FCT adding that peace is paramount for any country that strives to develop.
N.O
