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Advocates push for second tier of government in FCT
Advocates focusing on the socio-cultural, political, and economic rights of the original inhabitants of Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, FCT)l, are pushing for a constitutional amendment to introduce a second tier of government in Abuja.
During a discussion at a one-day Roundtable on the Political Rights of Original Inhabitants in FCT, organized by the Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Development Awareness, CESDA, they emphasized that in order for FCT residents to experience the full benefits of democracy, they should possess rights equivalent to those of citizens in other states.
Representing the FCT Youth Network, Barr. Daniel Zhidi highlighted the potential advantages of implementing a second-tier government in FCT, including the possibility of establishing educational institutions.
Zhidi expressed concern over the absence of a state university in FCT, which has made it challenging for indigenous youth to secure admissions. This lack of educational opportunities is viewed as a violation of the educational rights of FCT natives.
Zhidi also pressed for the addition of another senatorial district in Abuja, along with the creation of two additional House of Representatives constituencies to ensure more comprehensive representation for the inhabitants of the region.
So , the constitution needs to be amended to reflect this so that FCT indigenes will feel the impact of democracy properly like other Nigerians. We have only two. Other states have more than four and if you compare the population, we are more than some states in Nigeria,” he said.
The legal practitioner called on all relevant organisations to engage the National Assembly for FCT to have more federal constituencies, stating that with that, the indigenous people and residents would feel the impact of democracy like other Nigerians.
“In addition to that, we want more area councils to be added to the six. Section 299 has said FCT should be taken as if it were one of the states. So, the relevant agencies also should look at it and find a way to approach the National Assembly so that “as if” would be removed.
He lamented that because of the expensive nature of land in Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, indigenous youths are stranded as there is no place for them to expand and build their own houses.
Earlier, CESDA’s Executive Director, Mr. Olusola Babalola, highlighted that their ongoing project aims to tackle longstanding political, socio-cultural, and socio-economic challenges faced by the original inhabitants of Abuja.
He expressed concern over the appropriation of the ancestral land of FCT inhabitants without proper compensation, emphasizing that their sources of income have been forcibly removed, leaving them in a state of struggle.
He said “they are Nigerians just like every one of us. Do we say that it’s a course for they to have contributed their land for the wellbeing of the entire Nigeria?”
Highlighting CESDA’s focus on the political rights of original Abuja inhabitants, Babalola noted the organization’s extensive efforts in advocating alongside relevant stakeholders to ensure proper recognition of the people’s political rights.
He recalled the recent appointment of an FCT indigene, Zephaniah Jisalo, as a minister by President Bola Tinubu. This landmark appointment, Babalola explained, was the result of persistent advocacy from various groups striving for the acknowledgment of these rights.
Babalola emphasized CESDA’s request for fair compensation if the ancestral land of FCT indigenes is acquired. This compensation, he stressed, should be structured in a way that prevents further turmoil in Nigeria.
On his part, Mr. Armsfree Ajanaku, the Communications Manager for Programmes 2 at the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), emphasized the need to safeguard the social, economic, and political rights of FCT indigenes.
Ajanaku highlighted the collaborative efforts of CESDA and other organizations in working together to advance the social and political rights of the original inhabitants of Abuja.
He praised the significant appointment, assessment, and confirmation of an FCT native as a minister. Ajanaku added that groups like CESDA, which are mobilizing people at the community level for the upcoming phase of this effort, deserve support from everyone.
“Considering the decade-long marginalisation and political relegation endured by the original inhabitant of the FCT who gave up their ancestral land for which they cannot be adequately compensated by the Nigerian state, there is a need to make it clear that the ministerial slot should not be seen as an end in itself.
“The political environment of FCT original inhabitants will not be completely achieved if all initiatives and advocacies do not translate into good governance. A such, representation must translate into concrete and practical improvement in the lives of the ordinary people of the FCT,” he said.
Ajanaku also called on the FCT administration to consult widely with original inhabitants of the FCT to understand their needs and aspiration as it proceeds to implement governance reforms in the FCT.
News
Reports of Justice Agim accompanying Wike to UNICAL convocation false, misleading Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has denied that one of its justices, Justice Emmanuel Agim accompanies the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to the convocation at the University of Calabar in the South South Nigeria.
The denial came amid suspicion that Justice Agim who wrote a judgment of the Supreme Court in favour of the 27 lawmakers in Rivers State is close to Wike, hence, his presence around Wike has triggered speculations.
Wike is the former governor of Rivers State and a current of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who controls lawmakers in Rivers.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Supreme Court’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Festus Akande, he refuted the claims, saying Agim attended the event on his own.
The statement described the rumour as misleading, insisting that Justice Agim attended the event as a honoree, urging Nigerians to disregard the social media lies.
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“Hon. Justice Agim attended the convocation as an esteemed honouree and an alumnus of the institution, who the Governing Council had found worthy to be conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Law (Doctor Honoris Causa),” the statement read.
“That Justice Agim was recognized for his significant contributions to the legal profession, which reflect his dedication to justice, integrity, and the rule of law.
Naija News reports that the statement highlighted that Justice Agim’s achievements serve as an inspiration for aspiring legal professionals and students alike.
The statement also addressed the claim that Justice Agim had attended the convocation ceremony in the company of Nyesom Wike.
It stressed that this was a false narrative, stating that Justice Agim’s attendance was independent of any government ministry or department and that he was not accompanying any government official.
“Any insinuation to the contrary is not only inaccurate but undermines the judicial independence that is crucial to our democracy,” the Supreme Court emphasized.
Additionally, the statement noted that Justice Agim had been scheduled to attend the burial ceremony of Hon. Justice Stanley Alagoa in Bayelsa State but had sought permission to attend the convocation ceremony instead.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court urged the media and the public to verify information through credible sources before dissemination.
“We encourage the public and media to verify information through credible sources before sharing or publishing to prevent the spread of misinformation,” the statement concluded.
News
State of Emergency in Rivers: $5,000 shared to Reps as ‘Sallah gesture,’ not bribe – Hon. Betara
Member representing Biu/Bayo/Shania/Kwaya/Kusar Federal Constituency of Borno State, Hon. Mukhtar Aliyu Betara has disclosed that he shared $5,000 with members of his committee as a “Sallah gesture”.
Betara who is the Reps Committee Chairman on FCT said the money was not a bribe to pass resolution declaring a state of emergency in Rivers as being insinuated.
The was posted by a Nigerian investigative journalist, Jaafar Jaafar on his X handle.
Jaafar said Betara explained this to him after the lawmaker reached out to clarify that the $5,000 given to lawmakers was merely a “Sallah gesture” and not an inducement.
He quoted Batara to have said the gesture was a long standing g tradition and has nothing to do with the state of emergency I Rivers.
Jaafar wrote:
“The chairman of the House Committee on FCT, Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, has clarified to me that he only shared $5,000 with each member of his committee as a ‘Sallah gesture,’ not as an inducement to support emergency rule in Rivers State.
“According to him, he maintains the tradition—like Santa Claus—every year.
“As we say in Hausa, not thigh but hind leg.”
The clarification by Betara came amid strong speculations that Senators received $15,000 bribe to pass a resolution to sustain declaration of state of emergency rule in Rivers.
The bribe was reportedly shared on Tuesday before they voted on Wednesday.
News
INEC holds crucial meeting to look into petition recalling Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from Senate
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proceeded into a crucial meeting to study and look into a petition submitted to it by constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District.
CAPITAL POST gathered, it a top management meeting as it was claimed that over 250,000 constituents signed the petition out of 480,000 registered voters.
The meeting was confirmed on Monday by the Acting
Director of Publicity, Esther Chibuikem, stating that the meeting held at a committee room at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
It was also confirmed that the Secretary to the commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, on received the petition against Natasha on Monday.
The petition follwed the nod given by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja on Friday where the earlier judgement restraining INEC from accepting the petition was set asid3.
Last week, constituents from Kogi Central were said to have i initiated a recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, but some constituents claimed that they were d3ceived into exercise as they were told to gather with their voters card for 3 powerment.
However, the Court, in a judgement delivered in Lokoja, affirmed that the recall process is constitutionally valid and aligns with the civic rights of the constituents.
The court urged the constituents to continue exercising their rights in an orderly and peaceful manner.
The development was after the court on Thursday granted an interim injunction restraining INEC, its staff, agents, privies or assigns from receiving, accepting or acting on any petition containing signatures of members of Kogi Central Senatorial District.
As at press time, INEC hasn’t release information on the next action as signatures may have to be critically compared with its register to determine validity.
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