The natives of Abuja have rejected groups seeking secession from Nigeria.
President of the Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja (OIDA), Danladi Jeji noted that they would seek independent status from the northern and southern groups if the Nigerian federation is dissolved.
Jeji said they will seek an independent status by calling on the United Nations to govern the 8,000sq kilometres territory through a transitional arrangement until it can become an autonomous city-state with socio-political and economic sovereignty.
While canvassing support for the federal government, the group called for more devolution of powers to FCT and state governments to ensure grass root development.
“We have watched with dismay as federal authorities and security agencies look on as separatist and expulsionist groups have a field day calling for dismemberment of Nigeria or giving quit notices to fellow Nigerians. We condemn all of these shady characters and agitations in strong words,” Jeji said in a statement made available to Pulse by OIDA’s media adviser, Sumner Shagari Sambo on Monday, July 3, 2017.
“Nigeria is bigger than all of us but it is also not non-negotiable as erroneously believed in some quarters, especially by those in power. Abuja natives believe that we can re-negotiate the content of the Nigerian constitution and structure of the federation by devolving more powers to the states and other constituent parts such as the FCT.
“We are minorities consisting of nine tribes and bourgeoning residents who have a right to self-determination hence none of the majority regions or ethnicities should think that we will go with them.
We urge more peace and unity at the moment but should the Nigerian federation be dissolved; we shall have no choice than to seek an independent status from the northern or southern groups agitating for separate countries at the moment. Like Kosovo, we shall seek the United Nations’ administrative, civil and military support to declare an autonomous status of self-government,” he added.
The statement adds that the resolutions are the outcome of an executive meeting during the weekend where members of its leadership and chiefdom representatives debated the state of the nation.
“Abuja natives believe in correcting state-sanctioned injustices in Nigeria through peaceful, political, legislative or judicial methods rather than unilateral declaration of secession or expulsion of non-indigenes through violent means hence our recent approach to sue the federal government last year at the ECOWAS Court of Justice for forceful usurpation of our ancestral lands and denial of several human and democratic rights by the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The judgment of which we await.”
“We have in years past canvassed for decentralization of powers to natives and residents so that we can freely elect our own governor, have an FCT House of Assembly, an FCT judiciary and expand the democratic space through more representatives in the National Assembly rather than the present military contraption in which a minister, who knows half to nothing about the area, is appointed to govern the Territory while the 1999 Constitution sametime refers to the President as ‘Governor’ of FCT (see Section 299). This has often led to neglect of satellite towns, suburbs and rural communities in the territory as a result of the activities of the city-centred minister and decadent administrative structure. This shows that Nigeria’s grundnorm is faulty and needs urgent amendment.”
Similarly, the group also kicked against the recent decision of the FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello to close down all zonal land allocation offices in the six area councils within the FCT.
They described the action as not only “callous and non-consultative” but with the capacity to infuriate natives thereby leading to a breach of public peace.
“We call for an immediate reversal of the policy by the FCT administration as it will be too burdensome for our people to always be coming from interior communities to Area eleven for minor land disputes that should ordinarily be settled by land officials at local levels. Moreover, this action runs contrary to the provisions of the Land Use Act of 1978 and several judgments against the FCT administration in the past. The Supreme Court has clearly stated in its judgment that Customary Land Title has not been abolished by the FCT Act via case number SC/187/2000 filed by Abaji Area Council against the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory with judgment delivered on 27 November 2000 by Justice SMA Belgore. Hence, there is no justifiable reason for closing down such zonal land offices in the first instance.”
The group asked the minister to include FCT natives in the FCT Land Allocation Committee and advised him to always consult with all relevant elected, traditional and civil society organizations like OIDA before taking such critical decisions so as to prevent public disorder.
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate
1 Comment
hahahahaha Ndi ala am just reading comments