The attention of the Coalition of FCT Indigenous Associations has been called to a publication by some yet to be identified persons pitching the government and the Minister of FCT against Abuja Original Inhabitants.
“The publication purports that, Abuja Original Inhabitants are dragging the FCT Minister and also accusing him of dubious and shady land administration practices and as well invited the security agencies to probe the Minister of the allegations”
Setting the records straight
First and foremost, The Coalition of FCT Indigenous Associations is an umbrella body and mouthpiece for over fifty (52) indigenous associations cut across the six (6) Area Council and the nine (9) indigenous tribes in the FCT. We are by this publication stating the following: –
1. That at no time did Abuja Original inhabitants through any means made the viral publication accusing the Hon. Minister of FCT, Barr. Nyesom Wike CON of any wrongdoing doing and shady dealings in the the just few months of the ministers administration.
2. That Abuja Original Inhabitants do not hold any parallel view(s) at the moment against the Minister of FCT on the governance of the FCT.
3. That prior to the appointment of the Minister, we have always canvassed for a Minister that will carry our people along in the leadership and governance of the FCT and Barr. Nyesom Wike has partly fulfilled that prayers when he appointed one of us as a Mandate Secretary and has promised to do more in the coming days.
We are an organized people in the FCT and we the Abuja Original Inhabitants know ourselves. We are well structured as indigenous groups with a well defined channels either through OIDA, OIYEO, Abuja Lawyers Forum or Abuja Women Grassroots Organization among others. Whenever we have grievances against the government, we know how to conduct and communicate our feelings to the appropriate authority and not in the skewed manner of the purported ‘Concerned FCT Citizens and Civil Society Groups’ of the imposter called Daniel Okwa. We are still in tandem with the government and the Minister’s magnanimity so far and trusting that the current process of completing the formation of FCTA will be lived by his antecedent with our people.
More also, we want to inform the general public that our preliminary finding has revealed that the said Daniel Okwa is a native of Benue State precisely from Otukpo and it surprises us that a Benue State indigene is now impersonating an abuja Original Inhabitant.
However, we want to use this medium to call on the security agencies to as a matter of urgency fish out the imposter and subject him and his group to the laws of our land against defamation and impersonation because that is what the said Daniel Okwa and his group have done.
The FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike had in his address upon assumption of office, pledged to work with the indigenous people of the FCT and would protect us as a people and as such, we do not have any reason in these early days to smear the Minister’s name. We reposed high confidence on his leadership and look forward to working better with him for the growth and development of our people.
Finally, we call on the FCT Minister and well meaning Nigerians to disregard the statement of the said ‘Concerned Citizens of FCT & Civil Society Groups’ led by Daniel Okwa impersonating Abuja original Inhabitants. Daniel and his purported group of civil society do not represent Abuja original inhabitants and are not indigenes of the FCT.
Signed:
Kamal Adamu Shuaibu
Coordinator FCIA