Inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have urged the incoming minister of the FCT to eradicate corruption in Abuja by setting up a panel of inquiry to investigate the massive fraudulent activities in the resettlement and allocation of lands by the last administration.
Speaking on behalf of the natives, Magajin Garki, Mr Joel Yazegbe said the indigenes of Abuja believe in President Buhari and his ability to take the country to a greater height which is why they are appealing to his government to correct the abnormalities in the FCT, which is mostly in the allocations of land by the immediate past administration.
According to Yazegbe, when the last administration started the issue of resettlement, the houses built for indigenes were like those of refugees, which were contrary to their expectations. He further said if the government is resettling people from their original places, they should make the places comfortable for them and their families.
“When you go to Apo resettlement area, you will discover that there is no way we can expand our houses to accommodate our children. That is why we are appealing to the incoming FCT minister to set up a panel to investigate all the atrocities that were committed in the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the resettlement department.
“This is because most of the resettlement houses were acquired by them and many indigenes could not get them. We do not even know how they got the detailed numbers to acquire those houses. As a staff of the FCDA, they have the responsibilities to work for the government, not to work for themselves. The question is how they got the resettlement houses when they are not indigenes?” he said.
The Magajin Garki further explained that indigenes of the FCT are law-abiding and peace-loving people, who believe that, under the leadership of President Buhari, things will go well because he is going to govern Nigeria the way the people want.
“The former FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed committed a lot of fraudulent acts in the area of allocation of plots of land in the FCT and the issue of resettlement has been pending for a long time. We discovered that members of the FCDA are not sincere in doing anything for the indigenes.
“We also do not understand why in Garki village, the construction of road leading to the Chief’s palace, in-between Enugu and Lagos streets was stopped halfway by the FCDA. We want to know who the contractors are so that we call them to order and even ask why they have not completed the job,” he said.
The Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) Guzape zone in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has called for the involvement of indigenes of Kpaduma communities and the entire FCT communities in the development process of the incoming administration in order to have a peaceful and cordial relationship with the people.
CAN chairman of Guzape zone, Mr. Eboh David, said the Federal Government should come to the aid of members of the FCT communities and the original inhabitants of Kpaduma who are demanding their rights and compensation for their farmlands acquired by government.
David made the call at a thanksgiving service organised at the Kpaduma village where he said the essence of the thanksgiving was to glorify God in their lives despite several challenges that the people experienced when the last administration was in power.
His words: “The Federal Government should come to the aid of people the FCT communities and listen to the cries of original inhabitants of Kpaduma communities that are demanding their rights and compensation for their farmlands acquired by government.
“The essence of the Thanksgiving Service was to glorify God for the protection of lives and property in Kpaduma communities during the last administration, despite several challenges. God should continue to grant peace and unity to people in the FCT and entire Nigeria,” he said.
Leader of Kpaduma communities, Hon. Bala Iyah, explained that the main reason for the thanksgiving service was for the event that almost took place on May 14, this year when officials of Development Control, in company of armed military personnel in six vehicles were about entering the community to mark houses for demolition.
“If not for the divine intervention, only God knows what would have happened, because our youths were ready for anything when they heard the plan of Development Control Department. We will continue the dialogue with the FCT authority and how to stop the demolition of houses in our communities.
“We are appealing to the incoming FCT administration to consider the original inhabitants in their policies and carry them along. If they have anything in our communities, we should be informed before any action is taken. There should be proper compensation for farmlands that were taken from our people.
“We are also appealing to the incoming administration to consider us in any appointment to be made in the FCT. In all the parastatals in FCDA, no indigene is carried along; even positions for chairman and Permanent Secretary of various Boards, not one indigene is given position.
“We want to be incorporated in the Master Plan of Abuja. We are assuring the government that we are not terrorists; we are mankind like them and we should be treated as such. That is why we have been supporting the development of the FCT. They should also consider original inhabitants on scholarship from primary to higher institutions,” he said.
The Etsu of Yaba community in Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, has called on the incoming administration of the FCT, to re-activate the annual fishing festival in the community that had always been their tradition for years.
He said if taken seriously, the fishing festival will serve as a tourists’ attraction that will bring financial benefits to the incoming administration and the people. It will in turn generate revenue for the area council.
The monarch, who spoke with reporters in Abuja, expressed concern over the abandonment of the festival by the FCT Agricultural Secretariat, adding that the festival, which holds in March and April every year began over 200 years ago.
“The last time fishing festival was held in this village was in 2008. Since then, the government has abandoned it. I am appealing to the incoming FCT government to re-activate it so that it will yield revenue to the council,‘’ he said.
While commenting on some challenges which he said the community is experiencing the monarch, also appealed to the incoming administration to rehabilite the 14 kilometer Dangara-Yaba road, which he said was in deplorable state.
He further said the road, which links Yaba and Niger State, was constructed over 20 years ago, and has become a nightmare to residents, especially motorists eand farmers that convey their farm produce to Abaji and Kwali markets.
The monarch commended the immediate past FCT ministers, Senator Bala Moahammed and Minister of State for the FCT, Mrs. Oloye Olajumoke, for identifying with the indigenes, especially the traditional rulers in the FCT. He wished them success in their future endeavours.
Mass graves litter Berom communities in Plateau State, owing to incessant attacks spanning over 10 years. Why do the attacks persist? asks YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU reports
Even as new governments were sworn in at the weekend, gunmen were killing in a Berom community in Plateau State. The attacks were not new; they have lasted over a decade, leaving loud wailing across the ethnic group.
The attackers often swooped on their victims in the dead of night, wiping out large numbers of the residents, mostly women and children.
•Displaced Shonong women at a camp in Riyom
In the latest attack in Shonong community, Riyom Local Government Area, left hundreds of houses in ruins, while their occupants fled.
In the last one month, over 60 people have been killed in such attacks in Barkin Ladi and Riyom local governments.
Mr. Samson Tsok, the President of Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM) said at a briefing in Jos, the state capital:
“[A] total of two hundred and two (202) human lives mostly women and children have been lost between October 5th, 2014 and May 24th, 2015”.
When the attacks were becoming too frequent, the state government imposed a curfew on the affected local governments. The movement restriction was effective from 10pm to 5am. But three days after, the gunmen changed tactics and started attacking in broad daylight.
Who are the attackers?
Security agents say they are unknown. But the victims say they are Fulani herdsmen.
But why do they attack at all?
The cattle breeders say they are forced to attack in revenge for the theft of their beloved animals.
There is a heavy presence of Fulani cattle breeders in Riyom and Barkin Ladi local governments. Both local governments have three districts each; in each of these districts, the Fulani are dominant in one, while Fulani herdsmen are also found in the backyard of the other two districts in both local governments.
•Cows are often rustled in Berom communities, leading to attacks
There are other itinerant Fulani who walk the international grazing route passing through Berom communities. The grazing route is now a subject of controversy before the National Assembly. The cattle breeders are claiming rights on grazing routes while the Berom people assert that their farmland cannot be reserved as grazing routes.
Besides the claims and counter-claims over grazing routes, the Fulani and Berom have coexisted for almost a century. However, in the last one decade, they have become cats and dogs.
Cattle breeding and livestock keeping, especially cow grazing, have been the traditional business of the Fulani ethnic group. But as they coexisted, they established a symbiotic relationship, with the Berom even handing over their children to the Fulani to be trained in the techniques of grazing. The Fulani lived mostly in the bush which is often far away from schools, which is why they also sent their children to schools in Berom communities.
In those good old days, former Bauchi State governor Isa Yuguda, a Fulani, grew up in the hands of a Berom man in Barkin Ladi. Yuguda once said, “When my father was relocating from Jos to Bauchi and I was in school, my father left me in Barkin Ladi in the hand of a Berom man. Under the custody of a Berom man, Yuguda had both his primary and secondary education at Barkin Ladi before joining his father in Bauchi.
Things have changed. Now the Berom and Fulani are sworn enemies. Today, it is either the Berom people are attacking their Fulani neighbours or the Fulani are attacking the Berom. Their frosty relationship got to a level where both of them went as far as seeking mercenaries to attack the other.
But central to the recent attacks is the issue of cattle rustling, a criminal activity that has prevailed in some parts of Plateau State in the last five years. The economic situation in Berom land is such that both ethnic groups keep livestock especially cows. Both ethnic groups rustle cows. It has also been said that that the Fulani also rustle Fulani cows, while the Berom equally steal a fellow Berom’s cattle. On the other hand, the Berom rustle Fulani cows just as the Fulani also rustle Berom cows. The suspects arrested by security agents for cow rustling included Fulani, Berom as well as other tribes.
•STF Commander Major Gen David Enetie
According to the Commander of the Special Task Force (STF) on Jos crisis, Major General David Enetie, “Cow rustling has become a lucrative business among the youths of Plateau State; youths in this state have developed the appetite in rustling cows and selling them for money. We consider that as criminal; this is different from the Jos crisis that we know, so all these attacks are no longer about Jos crisis; it is a newfound crime in the state. So each time you hear of an attack, there is cattle rustling behind it. If there is no cattle rustling, you will not hear of attacks.”
The understanding of many in the state has been that since it is the Fulani that are always suspected to be the attackers, it then means the victims of the attacks are the ones feeding on Fulani cows. This suspicion grew in the recent attacks in some Berom communities. The STF revealed that some cattle rustlers went to a Fulani settlement in Jos East and stole 400 cows. The criminals were reportedly in four groups. But the owner of the cows called STF distress line, prompting the security agents to respond immediately.
“STF followed the routes of the criminals and encountered them in a gun duel. We killed four of the criminals and recovered 280 cows. But then the Fulani thanked us and said they knew where the remaining 120 cows were and that they would go and look for the remaining cows. The Fulani knew the cows were taken to Foron village in Barkin Ladi LGA, that was the reason for the attack in Foron the next day”
Just as the STF commander puts it, “Some people will be condemning STF for not stopping the attacks or arrest the attackers. But people are not condemning the criminality. We have prevented several attacks in these local government but people don’t know this. If we follow up and recover rustled cows, you will not hear of attacks, but if cows are rustled and they are not recovered the owners of the cows have a way of discovering those who stole his cows and they go out for them.
The Nation found out that most communities are not ready to take responsibility for their own security.
Enetie said, “We keep preaching to the people to be vigilant at all times, we encourage them to set up local community groups to guard their environment day and night, but in most cases, the natives drink in the day and sleep carelessly at night to the extent that given any attack, the people are already weak to put up any challenge considering the way they drink in the day.
“Some of people are not sensitive to their own environment; how will you know when the enemy comes and already you know you are living with the enemy?”
The STF at times, deliberately refused to respond when they got distress calls because they expected the leaders of the communities to caution their youths from feeding on Fulani cows.
The STF said they believe that when the youths are going after the cows, the leaders pretend not to be aware, but when the Fulani came after those who steal the cows, it becomes a security issue. There will be no need for distress calls if the youths stop hunting for Fulani cows. In other words it is jungle justice meeting criminality.
The Berom insist that the attacks by their Fulani neighbours have nothing to do with cow rustling. They swore the youths never hunt for Fulani cows.
The chairman of Riyom Local Government Area, Mrs. Josephine Piyo said, “The allegation of the cattle rustling against the Berom youths cannot be true; rather, it is the Fulani that do steal cow belonging to the natives. Before now, a lot of Berom people bred cows, but today the Berom cannot keep cows again, their stock have been stolen by the Fulani. As if that is not enough, they attack our people without reason.”
The chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area, Hon Emmanuel Loman also said, “These attacks by the Fulani are unprovoked; I have spent time and resources to ensure peace reign in my local government but after achieving relative peace for a moment, we will hear another attack by Fulani. I don’t know what the Fulanis are looking for. I mean this insecurity in Berom land is becoming protracted and devastating; the federal government needs to also give maximum attention. They are giving to North East to Plateau North Senatorial zone. I said so because since 2010, more than 10,000 Berom people have been killed by unknown gunmen; we keep crying out but the federal government seems not to take us serious. We have done within our own local power to stop these incessant attacks, the state government have equally done a lot, so what is required now is mass deployment of federal troops to the areas” said Hon Loman
Berom Youth Moulders Association (BYM), formerly Berom Youth Movement has also said the reasons for Fulani attacks on their people goes beyond cattle rustling. The group’s national chairman, Mr. Samson Tsok while briefing press men in Jos over the crisis said, “We strongly believe that, the relentless guerrilla attacks and isolated killings that have been experienced in Berom Land since 2001 reveals a strategic character and placement within a wider framework designed to eliminate, displace and disposes the Berom from their ancestral and God-given land.
The Berom youth leader continued, “It has come to the knowledge of the Berom that the Fulani are assiduously and relentlessly fighting the Berom in order to violently create illegal grazing reserves and to achieve political territory in the fashion of Boko Haram. Already, the Fulani have forcibly expelled and dislodged the Berom from the boundary areas of Bachi, Gashish, and Jol (Mahanga) in Barkin Ladi/Riyom LGAs and well as Jos East and Mangu Local Government areas respectively.
“Special Task Force (STF) personnel on ground have failed to address the problem because some of them are accomplices in the crime against the Berom people, alleging that they are sometimes hired to perpetrate the crime or bribed to turn a blind eye when these attacks are carried out.
“Mercenaries have been hired from Chad and Niger to come and fight against the Berom in their land,” he added.
He also alleged that “It is also believed that there are terrorists training camps somewhere in Gashish, Bachi and Riyom districts. The Nigerian government and indeed the world should not stand aloof or turn a blind eye to the heinous crimes being perpetrated against the Berom. BYM demand justice, peace, and security for the people living and working in Berom land and Plateau state” he concluded.
But the questions that remain on everyone’s lip in the state is, why only in Berom land we here of Fulani attacks. Apart from the issue of cow rustling, The Nation found out that the protracted violent conflict in Berom land is a struggle over land between the Berom farmers and Fulani cattle breeders. The Fulani cattle breeders have been laying claims to a grazing reserve in Berom land. The Fulani claimed there is an international grazing route which passed through Berom land. They also believed that some of the Berom communities are settling and farming on their grazing route. With this belief, any farm or human settlement seen to causing obstruction to ‘free grazing’ of the Fulanis, they will devour it.
But Hon Daniel Dem, member representing Riyom constituency in Plateau house of assembly argued that even if the cause of the violence is over grazing routes, killings cannot be the solution, it is matter that can be resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding. “In any case, in all our peace parley the Fulani leaders have never complain about grazing reserve, so I don’t think that is part the reasons why they are attacking our people.
Despite the fuel shortage challenges, schools and other public institutions marked the Children’s Day. But to the less privileged kids at the Abuja Children’s Home, Karu, the day held no promise until members of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Abuja Chapter paid them a visit.
On arrival, Naimat Suleiman, a Nursery 1A pupil at the Abuja Children Home, caught the attention of the NIPR executives. She relies solely on help from people for her mobility. Why? The six-year-old is handicapped. Yet, she was in a little brawl with her friend clearly because she wanted her friend to stop playing and pick her book and do her homework.
Perhaps, she felt work should precede play. But for the swift intervention of one of the officials of the NIPR, the exchange of words between the little kids would have lasted longer.
At last both parties accepted truce ushered by the NIPR executive. The crisis management was further complemented with bags of rice, noodles, biscuits, drinks brought for the children to celebrate their special day.
Among other items were detergents, clothing materials, plastic buckets, Sharpview Multisystem television with Startimes Antenna, decoder with subscription.
Abuja Review gathered that the essence of the visit was to give the children a sense of belonging and not being left out of the fun which their able-bodied counterparts would have taken for granted.
Some of the pupils were sighted at recreation field within the premises playing with their regular toys. But it’s common knowledge that Children’s Day celebration is always busy with different activities lined up to make it remarkable.
Aside from the annual students’ parade, there are also athletic events, dance, performances from voluntary organisations such as Boys Scouts, Man ‘O’ War among others. Boys Brigades also displays their artistic beats of drums. These arrays of presentations definitely create exciting but lasting memory in the mind of the children.
According to the NIPR FCT Chairman, Ohaeri Osondu in his opening remarks, the NIPR considered it necessary to visit the orphanage. He said the visit was in compliance with the principle of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) which the body strongly believes such that organisations should give back to their host community. He observed that most parents would take their kids to the Zoo, amusement parks or a special place but the less privilege children have no option than to be in door. “We see it as symbolic in the sense that as we are marking the children’s day…..some of our parents have the opportunity to take their children out for recreational activities. They visit one refreshment joint or another but for us in NIPR, we hold tenaciously to the principle of corporate social responsibility. You strive to impact on your immediate neighbor.
“We looked at our programme and we realise our immediate neigbour on a day like this happens to be Abuja children home. We felt the need to come with clothing, medical items. We also came with Television and decoder so that we can expand their horizon about their society and the outside world.
“We came to see how we can impact on the children’s lives because we strongly believe that whatever we are doing now for our children, they should also transcend beyond our homes because nobody knows the person who will stand out as future leader of this country. It could be from this home.
“So for us in NIPR, we felt the need to do it for the good of our nation, Nigeria.” Earlier, members of the institute were conducted round the premises to have a view of the composition of the home. They moved from the hostels to the day care center, the school, the mosque among other facilities. The auditorium is equipped with multimedia facility. So, the chairman sought the opportunity to commend the FCT administration.
“Something good is happening in this home. The environment is hygienically taken care of so that the children can have good mentoring and psychological development.”
Nevertheless, despite the commendations, more so, from the administrator of the orphanage, Alhaji Sulaiman Umar, there was call to maintain the structures. Umar also requested for more supports asking other corporate organisations to imitate kind gesture of the NIPR. He said they were faced with challenges of power, water and some basic needs. While acknowledging the present friction in the nation’s economy, he noted that the children were innocent and should not be made to under poor living conditions.
“I am basically happy with this. I love these children. These children are for all Nigerians. Definitely some will be in great government positions because they are talented. So what we need to do is to help them in the right way. They need love and perfection like every other
child in this country. So I am very happy with the gesture of the NIPR. I appreciate them and I look forward to other people coming to support orphanage home or child care institution across the country.”
According to him, the donations will make great impacts in running activities of the orphanage. “There have been some hardships lately just like around the country. So they can go to school with the snacks and food items in their lunch boxes.
He commended the FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed for the renovation of the entire premises. “You can see around that the home has been renovated. The houses and everywhere has been renovated to international standard. But everything boils down to finance. We need many things to maintain this home such as human, medical, electricity, water bill, cars, staff maintenance even building.”
Members of the institute eventually took pictures with the kids as well as management of the home.
It was not sweets and music. On Children’s Day, kids in Gbaupe community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) got books, free health care and, of course, food and lots of other valuables.
They had a non-governmental organisation (NGO) SAM Empowerment Foundation (SEF) to thank for that.
The organisation launched a multi-million naira empowerment programme in the community with a message that encouraged the children to live exemplary lives in their community.
Founder of SEF Dr. Aishat Achimugu said that the dream of every parent is to see their children excelling in various endeavours. She also urged the children to adhere to societal values as a yardstick to a brighter future.
She said, “Children are gifts from God. We have the responsibility to cater for their needs and to also nurture them to maturity. We have come today as a special day to celebrate with you all in our own little way. I urge you all to be exemplary in your studies in order to be better citizens of this great country tomorrow.”
In the course of the visit, the NGO medical personnel conducted medical screening and treatment on some members of the community with the promise to equip the Gbaupe Community Health centre to meet the modern standard.
Responding, the Etsu of Gbaupe, Mallam Danjuma Gareje commended the gesture of SAM Foundation for reaching out to the community at a time the people are clamouring for government attention in the areas of health, energy supply, education and accessible roads. Gareje assured that the items distributed will be channeled judiciously to meet it purposes while calling on government not to relent in the task of giving back to the people the dividend of democracy by alleviating the plight of the less privilege in the society.
There are side attractions from the children, like news casting, cultural and comical display, match pass, music interlude, dancing, cutting of cake, women empowerment and many more.
President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo formally took over the reigns of power at the Eagle Square, Abuja on Friday and triumphantly gained entrance to the seat of power.
Buhari had to wait for 12 years from 2003 before his glorious entry to Aso Rock as the next occupant of the Presidential Villa.
He was not deterred after he lost the presidential elections in 2003, 2007 and 2011, until he won the 2015 Presidential election by beating former President Goodluck Jonathan.
Buhari said: “I am immensely grateful to God who has preserved us to witness this day and this occasion. Today marks a triumph for Nigeria and an occasion to celebrate her freedom and cherish her democracy.
“Nigerians have shown their commitment to democracy and are determined to entrench its culture. Our journey has not been easy but thanks to the determination of our people and strong support from friends abroad we have today a truly democratically elected government in place.”
He did not fail to thank former President Jonathan for displaying statesmanship in conceding defeat in the aftermath of the March 28 Presidential election.
Buhari also thanked millions of his supporters who believed in him and the All Progressives Congress (APC) by trooping out for hours in the rain and hot sunshine to register and cast their votes.
Believing that they have contributed to make Nigeria’s democratic culture truly competitive, strong and definitive, the President also thanked Nigerians who did not vote for him during the election.
Buhari thanked African and world leaders for their support to the emergence of the new government.
Reassuring that he will not witch-hunt anybody, he said: “A few people have privately voiced fears that on coming back to office I shall go after them. These fears are groundless. There will be no paying off old scores. The past is prologue.”
President Buhari has promised to introduce some economic strategies and to tackle corruption head-on, which has been eating deeply into the national treasury.
He has singled out agriculture and mining towards creating jobs for the unemployed youth who form more than 60 per cent of the population.
Buhari has also unveil his plans to seek the support of Europe, U.S. and Nigeria’s neighbours towards the country’s development, especially in the areas of tackling the unemployment and security problems confronting the nation.
“I ask Nigerians to please bear with us; a lot of damage has been done,” Buhari pleaded with Nigerians.
Recognising the role played by the Nigerian masses in the emergence of the Buhari government, the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, during the Gala Night at the Presidential Villa on Friday described them as the heroes of the moment.
He said: “Money and open privilege, despite heavy inducement to move otherwise, the people were not induced or intimidated. The people voted for their better destiny at last election. The average Nigerian, decent, hardworking, unseen and anonymous, they voted.
“They are the heroes of this glorious moment. Without their faith in democracy and belief in better future, this election would not have been had and we will not be celebrating the inauguration of a new president tonight.”
“Congratulations to millions of Nigerians at home and abroad. congratulations to Africa, Nigeria is ready to lead.” He added
With the change in government, not a few Nigerians are anxiously waiting and hoping for urgent betterment of their livelihood.
There is no doubt that the cooperation and support of all Nigerians are needed to back up the new administration to succeed and deliver the goods to all.
While the new government is bringing changes on board, Nigerians themselves have been urged to also change their ways for good.
Bidding Nigerians goodbye
Former President Goodluck Jonathan at almost every public function he attended before his government expired last Friday had taken the opportunities to bid Nigerians goodbye.
His cabinet also did the same during the administration’s valedictory Federal Executive Council (FEC) session last Wednesday.
All the ministers in attendance spoke and commended Jonathan’s leadership style.
They were also full of praises to him for the opportunity he gave them to serve their country.
Speaking at the occasion, immediate past Vice President Namadi Sambo said: “His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan found me worthy to be his running mate twice, first in 2011 when we were returned with an overwhelming majority to emerge victorious at the election and in 2015 where we encountered some electoral misfortunes.
“I can recall confidently that I had neither canvassed nor lobbied to be appointed the Vice President at any point in time except that Mr. President found me worthy to support him in steering the ship of state. This is a clear demonstration and proof of the confidence Mr. President reposed in me in the discharge of my onerous responsibility of my office to the best of my ability.
“I am privileged and humbled to be found worthy to be the Vice President of this great nation by a great leader, democrat, peace ambassador and patriot of our time,” he said.
Canvassing Jonathan’s return in 2019
Some immediate past members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) have started drumming support for the return of former President Goodluck Jonathan to the number one seat during 2019 Presidential election.
The Minister of State for Niger Delta, Awal Bappa, during last Wednesday’s FEC valedictory session, predicted that Jonathan would return to office in 2019 following the footsteps of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammadu Buhari who returned to office many years after they were heads of state.
She stressed that the only difference would be that Jonathan would wait for only four years rather than decades before coming back.
Minister of Defence, Aliyu Gusau, in his contribution, also concurred with Bappa that Jonathan would indeed be back to office as president soon.
But Jonathan, when he had opportunity to speak during the session, was silent on the yearning of these former ministers.
The Federal Capital Territory Directorate of Road Traffic Services has threatened to clamp down on illegal car marts and unlicensed commercial vehicles in the territory.
The Service popularly known as Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) said it will also rid the FCT of illegal mechanic shops in the city centre as well as illegal car park operations.
In a statement by the Head of Press and Public Relations, Kenneth Iloduba in Abuja, the operators of illegal transportation business were advised to comply with the necessary requirements.
Those involved in unlawful car mart business and mechanic workshops were urged to relocate to the temporary site allocated to them by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
According to the service, commercial tricycle riders should adhere to route regulations to avoid wrath of the law.
“All operators of this mode of transportation are hereby advised to restrain their activities to satellite towns and area councils.
“This is important to note in mind that there will be no release of any impounded motorcycle and tricycle impounded by officers of the road traffic service.”
The Service however urged residents to understand that it is their duty to ensure decorum and decency on the road to enable FCT achieve the 2020 global projection of an accident-free city.
The Eagle Square hosted a momentous event on Friday but in places far removed from the venue, residents celebrated the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari. GRACE OBIKE reports
The thrill of the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari was beyond the confines of the Eagles Square where it held. There were colourful parades and the ubiquitous security personnel at the Square, but, really, wasn’t the whole event not just about speeches and more speeches?
Abuja offered more outside the Square.
Being that it was a public holiday, some people stayed back home, while a lot more queued up at the filling stations.
However, in Kubwa, for example, motorcycle riders, sachet water sellers and Almajiri boys staged their own celebration which started very early in the morning. Some screamed and drove at break-neck speed while holding unto the Nigerian flag and brooms and screaming Sai Baba.
Over 200 motorcycle riders took over the expressway. Some stood or lay on their fast-speeding bikes, holding their flags and chanting sai Buhari. Another group from Galadima, which mostly comprised of the Almajiri, water sellers and others, brandished flags and brooms, heading for the Square. Some danced to the tune of their traditional music blaring over the radio.
At the roundabout beside the Eagle Square, over 1000 young men and women carried Nigerian and the All Progressive Congress (APC) flags and while some danced with brooms, others drove round in cars with the occupants standing out of the windows and doors, waving their brooms. Some dabbed their entire bodies with paints that may take a while to wash out. They held their brooms, danced and swept the road.
•Residents relish the joy of Buhari’s inauguration
The chant on their lips was Sai Buhari, with a mischievous few chanting Sai Otuoke. Even after the inauguration and the President’s departure from the Square, they still gathered at their position, causing serious traffic gridlock and preventing vehicles that where mostly driving into the Hilton for the second phase of the celebration from driving pass freely especially without acknowledging them in some way.
The few individuals and tribes that were able to make it to the Unity Fountain also set up their banners, celebrating with a few cultural dance troops with different banners welcoming who most of them termed the people’s General.
Mariam Ikwunaye told Abuja Review that citizens of Nigeria should be ready to create the change that we need and not just sit back and wait for the President to change us when the citizens themselves refuse to change
“Today is historical because money politics has come to an end, it is going to be good for citizens to seat up and create opportunities for ourselves and make the change that we want to see but our new President on his part needs to secure the nation, we need to get rid of Bok Haram that have done enough havoc and end corruption.
“I am here because I want to be part of the citizens who are going to take what we call oat of citizenry, even though Nigeria needs a good leader, we also want good followers, so Buharian culture is here today to inaugurate all citizens who will take a pledge to be good citizens.”
The man who trekked from Lagos to Abuja, Suleiman Hashimu who have come to be known all over as the trekker and joined celebrators at the unity fountain explained that although he was at the square but was unable to meet with the President one on one, who hoped to meet with him soon because he has a lot to discuss with him. “I hope to meet with the President because I have a lot to discuss with him.” He said. “I believe that it will be possible for me to meet with him because he knows about me, to be honest, I did not trek because I wanted to be popular but because it was a promise that I made with God that if President Buhari wins, then I will trek and so when he won, I decided to fulfil the promise because of the love that I have for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, now that he has been inaugurated, I believe that he will work on the insecurity because with security in the country, people will come to invest in this country which will provide employment and I believe that Gen. Buhari will do it.”
Elvis Yungurung told Abuja Review that it feels like Nigeria is just gaining independence.
He said, “It’s a great day, marvellous day for me personally and then for our country; it feels like we are just getting independence now because we have a very important change, in government, system and mindset and this is a change that we actualised collectively; it wasn’t given to us out of charity, it was something we fought for and then we got it and today it has been formerly handed to us.
“My belief is that the change has come and we are going to live the change and we are going to fix this country, we are going to fix our future, we are going to have a country that we are going to be proud of so I will just say to the President that he has to remain focused because, I know he has the vision, I know he knows what he is up to, so all I can say to him is to remain strong and focused and we Nigerians bear as much responsibility in fixing this country as much as the president does so we need to live up to our own end of the obligation, it is a collective effort the citizens have a role in fixing the country, it is not just the president.”
Ibrahim Ado, one of the boys carrying brooms and jubilating, said that he is excited because he believes that the President will provide him with a job at last, “I am here very excited because Buhari is being sworn in as President, I am just happy because it is Buhari and I have waited for this day for a very long time, now that Buhari is here, he will do us good, everyone will get a job by the grace of God, I am quite hopeful God will bring confusion to the camp of those trying to ruin Gen. Buhari’s reign I can assure you.”
State volunteer superintendent of Nigerian Youth Volunteer Service, Anambra chapter, Hon. Ruth Okeke, who is part of the group that marched to the square to support the event, told Abuja Review, that they had come to Abuja to align with the policies of the President on Youth development. Her words, “We are so excited today, we arrived since 7am and as you can see people have been celebrating since then. From what can be seen from the Transcorp Junction where over 2000 people have gathered to celebrate because we believe that he is going to really make the change. This government has to come down to the grassroots, until their is youth development and pilot schemes for the youth, their is no way that we can move forward because the last government has stampeded the country, we want real change on the group and not lip service.”
Even though most people that went into town on that day where excited, not all of the approved of the level of jubilation that was being exhibited by some of the supporters.
Taxi driver John Adewale said that most of the boys were just risking their lives for no reason.
He said, “These boys are just risking their lives for nothing, see how they are driving around, it’s very risky, Buhari has warned them not to trek for him or do all of this. Now if they die or are injured, no one will care about them, they need to celebrate with care.”
Indigenes of Garki village in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have cautioned the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) against tampering with the original supplementary list submitted to the authority by the leaders of the community.
The natives, who spoke through the Magajin Garki, Joel Yazegbe, after a petition was submitted to the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), alleged that they have been reliably informed that the FCDA officials are contemplating a foul play to omit some original names submitted by the leaders, with intention to replace them with names submitted by FCDA officials.
Yazegbe said, “We write to warn the FCDA officials to desist from any act that is capable of tarnishing the image of the FCDA. We have read in recent reports of the last minutes secret allocations and racketeering business carried out by the FCDA, in conjunction with AGIS, using part of the resettlement areas to compensate the FCT minister Sen. Bala Mohammed’s friends and cronies.
“We are aware that such areas are meant to be allocated to the indigenes whose names were not captured in the last ressetlement exercise of the Garki community. On this note, we will not accept any development whereby the areas made for supplementary list in Apo Resettlement will use for personal or selfish gains.
“We will no longer tolerate further omissions of names or tempering the agreement reached by the early committee set up by the FCTA and headed by the minister of state Olajumoke Akinjide. We advise that the record should be set straight and every documents concerning the issue of the Garki Resettlement should be properly handed over the incoming administration,” he stated.
The natives further appealed to the incoming government to carry the indigenes along in policies and decision and policies that affect them directly and the government should also revisit the idea behind the allocation of numerous estates in the FCT without human beings living inside them.
“We want the incoming administration to ignore any document that is not properly presented by the indigenes of the FCT. If the any issue concerning the Indigenes should be presented to the incoming administration, let it be by the collective agreement of the indigenes, not some crooks using the fake associations of the original inhabitants to deceive the any government in power in the detriment of our people.
The natives further advise the president-elect to beware of groups or persons who uses the name of original inhabitants to deceive any government in power against the real wish and aspirations of the FCT natives.
