By Gami Tadanyigbe
The Coalition of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Indigenous Groups, on Thursday called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to appoint indigene as Minister and address land dispute with the Nigerian Army for peaceful coexistence in the country.
Mr Dalhatu Musa, leader of the group made the call during a press conference in Abuja to complain over failure by the Government to honour a Court of Appeal Judgement dated January 15, 2018 ordering an indigene be appointed a Minister of FCT.
According to him, the Governments inability to live up to the principles of the rule of law in addressing the plights of the indigenes will soon spark speculations in the Global community and other sympathisers.
“We are sobered in this gathering knowing that we are here to complain over an inconsequential demand that we have been denied yet without any sin.
“We don’t particularly find it funny that we belong to this part of the country that does not recognise us as a people and that has left us to tangle to our fate.
“It would have pleased us if we were gathered here today to send appreciation to the Federal Government for upholding our rights as a people constitutionally recognised.
“On the 15th January 2018, an Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal granted judgement in favor of FCT natives demanding our inclusion in the FEC, one year has gone and the President has turned blind eye to the judgement,” he said.
Miss Sarah Tukurah, the secretary of the group also called on the Government to address issues of land dispute between the indigenes and Nigerian Army along Zuba and Airport road for peaceful coexistence in the country.
Tukurah alleged that the Nigerian Army forcefully took over the land which resulted to the death of one Hamza Usman and over 27 other were seriously injured during a peaceful protest.
She disclosed that the Vice President once invited the indigenes and Nigerian Army and a mediating team was set up but its been over month now has yielded no result.
However, she added that the group have resolved that if nothing is done in the next 21 days to find lasting solution to the crisis between the FCT natives and Nigerian army, they will have no choice than take laws into their hands.
Among others in the press conference were the six FCT Area Council Chairmen, who are also members of the coalition group headed by the FCT ALGON Chairman.
