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Tag: indigenes

  • Kogi indigenes must unite to honour Audu, says wife

    Kogi indigenes must unite to honour Audu, says wife

    Aisha Abubakar Audu-Emeje is the wife of Prince Abubakar Audu, the late governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State. In this interview with Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo, she speaks on her late husband and the way forward for the state.

    How would you describe the death of your husband?

    His death is shocking without doubt. Prince Abubakar Audu was a shining star; and he kept shining till he left the world. Prince Audu’s death was an encounter with destiny, belief and conviction in accordance with the theological order. Prince Audu’s death is not just a loss to the family alone, but also big loss to the people of Kogi State, Nigeria and more particularly the nation’s political field where he was an active player, captain and stakeholder who was very much understood and partially misunderstood. Prince Audu left the world a true winner. He always conquered. He was a true son of Kogi State. He was an upright and focused politician who was loved by his people till the last day.

    What would you miss about him?

    Everything! His love, compassion, sense of magnanimity and his accommodating quality stood him out. He was a man of sterling virtues, who was ever willing to help at all times.

    What are the implications of his death in the politics of Kogi State and Nigeria in general?

    Allah, who created Audu, took him away, but the vacuum created by his death predicates that the people of Kogi State must go back to the drawing board to forgive one another, close the distances, harmonise our positions and be our brothers’ keepers. We must forget about the past, because it is no longer important; we must try to learn by taking advantage of the present circumstance we have found ourselves. Prince Audu’s death, no doubt, has reconfigured the political calculation of Kogi State. Even in his life time, he was a game changer to the extent that he has always caused reversal or changes in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This happened when the constitution was reversed to allow him contest for a second term, 10 years after leaving the same office. And this took a great deal of legal fireworks in the courts. And at the moment, the entire country is faced with a constitutional crisis triggered by his sudden death. And that is the greatness I am talking about Prince Audu.  Let me emphasise that Kogi State is one of the frontlines states in agriculture potentials, diverse cultural groupings, great intellectuals, successful industrialists, dedicated leaders, eminent and dignified statesmen, disciplined and energetic youth, and above all we are dynamic and equipped to move the state forward by continuing from where Prince Audu stopped, and his vision must be upheld in the spirit of sacrifice and continued dialogue.

    What is the way out of the present political logjam in Kogi State?

    It is important to remind the entire citizens of Kogi State that the late Prince Audu was a man of peace and goodwill; he was not a sectional or ethnic bigot. As a great man, his legacies live on. As an Ambassador of peace, I will like to call on all the indigenes, different ethnic and religious groups, and political affiliations in Kogis State to embrace peace and reject violence. A time like this in our political journey certainly demands sober reflection; we must not beat the drums of war. I call on the Igalas to uphold peace and brotherliness; let the Igbiras and the Okuns come to peace with other ethnic groups, and let our differences be swallowed by all of us coming together as one.

  • Delta community’s indigenes honour achievers

    For indigenes of Ubulu Unor living in Lagos, all roads led to St. Leo’s Catholic Church, Ikeja, Lagos, on November 29. That was the day the Ubulu Unor Union, Lagos State Branch, held its Annual Thanksgiving and Award Ceremony. Ubulu Unor is a community in Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State.

    By 1pm, the church auditorium had already filled to the brim. The occasion was to mark the end of the year and also to celebrate those who have impacted positively on the community in one way or the other.

    In his welcome address, the President of the union, Hon. Chris Aniagwu, underlined the significance of the occasion, saying that the gathering offered the opportunity of saying “thank you” to those who answered their clarion calls to service.

    Aniagwu, who said the gathering was to seek possible ways they could join hands and develop their fatherland, lamented the state of social facility in the town. For instance, he said electricity supply has been abandoned over the last 16 years. This, he added, has resulted in the decay of electric poles and wires that were used to connect the town to the national grid earlier.

    The President said: “Suddenly, the government is waking up from its slumber and now wants to restore power supply. But, it wants every community to contribute towards the effort. We know the humiliation of cruising in our cars from Lagos to Ubulu Uku or Ogwashi Uku, only to go at a snail pace when we approach Ubulu Unor because of bad road.”

    He decried the fact that unemployed youths have now resorted to breaking into peoples’ houses, a practice which, he said, was alien to Ubulu Unor lifestyle.

    Nevertheless, Aniagwu is optimistic that things will change soon. His words: “However, hopes are not lost because we still have illustrious sons and daughters who believe in Ubulu Unor. They believe that they can invest in their fatherland, no matter how long it will take to recoup their investments. Therefore, we appreciate our sons and daughters who are blazing the trail in this regard.

    No fewer than 12 indigenes went home with different categories of award. Some of the recipients are: Monsignor J.K. Aniagwu of St. Leo’s Parish, Ikeja, Lagos; the chief executive officer of Brilliant Group of Companies, Chief Joseph Nkenchor; the managing director of I.T. Identity Database, Mr Chuks Onyepunuka; Barrister Godwin Okoh; Mr. Glory Abunwa; Mr. Moses Uzunwe; and Mrs. Uchechukwu Mordi.

    In his acceptance speech, Nkenchor thanked the Ubulu Unor Union for the prestigious award, saying: “I feel very much encouraged, though I know something more than this is still coming. I am a social worker and I know what it takes to impact on the society in a positive way. My joy is when I see people around me smiling.”

    Nkenchor, who dedicated the award to Obidinma Okonkwor, an indigene who made efforts to rehabilitate roads in the town, said his desire to venture into road rehabilitation for his people was the mentorship he got from the philanthropist.

    Similarly, Onyepunuka commended the union for the award, saying he would not relent in contributing to the development of the town.

    Another awardee, Mordi, said for her, it was a honour and privilege to serve the community and as such that she cherishes the award from her people.

  • ‘I’ll protect indigenes’ interest’ 

    All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2016 Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) representing Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Abdullahi Mohammed Jabi has vowed to improve the well-being of Abuja natives and other dwellers if elected in the forthcoming election.

    Jabi made the promise during an interview with Abuja Review.

    He was optimistic that the capital city will be transformed in the shortest time possible.

    Jabi said security will be his utmost priority if voted into office, adding that Boko Haram insurgence will be tackle with fear or favour.

    He said, “I have 16 years experience as a party man since 1999 and for the position that I am going for chairmanship of AMAC, this is my third attempt towards realising my political ambition to govern the council. I come from Niger which was part of the states cut out to create the FCT but this is FCT, this is no man’s land, I am a citizen, I am qualified to contest election here that is what the constitution stipulates and I am resident in AMAC

    “Overtime we have had issues of chairmen that have passed through the same position without delivering key issues that has to do with residents of FCT, the issue of land acquisition is a problem, there should be mechanisms put into place to liberalise the policy so that so that everyone can have a sense of belonging as guaranteed by the constitution, secondly, you will realise that most of the satellite areas have not been covered over time, apart from the influence of FCDA particularly in the area council I am contesting, I have not seen where the chairman has gone out of his way to look at the interiors, where their are challenges of roads, water, sanitation, agricultural inputs that boost food production that has not been able to have adequate attention to are things that I will be channeling my energy to if elected.

    “I lost the other times because I had come from a weaker party whose structures where not solid but now, I am coming from a more solid party which is the APC, if I have the opportunity, I will be able to deliver, bearing in mind that I have all the necessary credentials to govern effectively. I am adequately connected with the people in the grass roots, under the zero party, I was a counsellor under the Jabi and they know that I am a man of the people, whatever I promise to do, that is what I will do without fear or favour, I am fearless, independent when it comes to policy issues.

    “The interest of the natives have to be protected vis a vis other nationalities resident here but we know from the record of the law that the FCT does not exercise anything called indigene ship, if you look at the arrangement in the constitution, it is like a no man’s land by acquisition if we talk of the indigenes, they are only dominate in few areas if I mention Wuse city centre, Jabi, Gwarimpa how many Gwari natives are here? It is the elites that are there, so invariably, the only place they can exercise their franchise is in Karshi, Orozo, Karu, Nyanya where they still have resemblance of population that can equate themselves with other population

    ”We will open up the rural areas, let their produce come to the market, empower them to have value for their produce and change their lives.”

    On what to expect from the incoming Minister of the FCT, he said: “the issue of the land swap scheme should be discontinued, the most dangerous thing happening all over the country right now is land grabbing, the issue of developer syndrome with unaffordable houses needs to be addressed, we can’t continue to leave buildings in the urban areas that is unoccupied to become a criminal den, we will give them a lot of taxation that will make them lease it out or allow people come in, a lot of policy issues needs to be addressed to make life more comfortable for everyone, we also need to look into the issues of ministries doing the same functions, for instance the aspect of the environmental protection board and their atrocities need to be redressed urgently, you can’t continue to use touts and tugs to keep of harassing peasant farmers and traders trying to make a living.

    ”In the aspect of security, I will establish neighbourhood watch properly trained and equipped, to work in line with security agencies and I will pay them good money, everybody must know his neighbour and they must police the community because if you do not do it from the community point of view, you cannot get it at the level of conventional policing.”

     

  • Indigenes protest ministerial list

    Indigenes protest ministerial list

    Some indigenous people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly over what they called the non-inclusion of an indigenous person on the ministerial list.

    They protested under the auspices of the Coalition of Indigenous Groups of the FCT.

    The protesters numbering over 100 gathered at the Eagle Square from where they marched to the National Assembly. They bore placards with such inscriptions as ’FCT indigenes deserve Ministerial slot’, ‘We need a second-tier government in FCT’, ’PMB please appoint an FCT indigene as a Minister, for fair representation at FEC’.

    Spokesperson of the group, Comrade Dalhatu Ezekiel said that they staged the peaceful protest after the list of nominees sent by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Senate on September 30 had no FCT original inhabitant on it.

    “We demand to be treated fairly, as enshrined in Section 299 of 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). When it comes to education, we produce graduates with good grades yearly, with wonderful areas of specialisation, like engineers, doctors and lawyers.

    “We are calling on President Buhari to appoint an original inhabitant of FCT as a Minister. We demand that the FCT be given a 2nd tier of government to carter for the original inhabitants as applicable in other states, like administrative and political structure of the FCT.

    “We demand for the appointments of FCT original inhabitants as chairmen of Boards into the Federal Government Ministries, Dep-artments and Agencies. We shall continue to support President Buhari and the National Assembly in all ramifications towards ensuring that the administration succeeds given the benefit of doubt. We shall at the same time stop at nothing, but will explore all avenues to ensuring that our demands are met rather than been overlooked,” he said.

    The Chairman Senate Committee on Information, Senator Dino Melaye, who spoke with the protesting natives, commended the peaceful manner in which they conducted themselves, telling them that the only agenda of the 8th Senate is the people.

    He appealed to them not worry because the present administration is going to listen to their plight and give them what they are agitating for.

    In a related development, a lawyer, Mr James Ndeye, has said some indigenous people of the FCT will sue the Federal Government if it fails to appoint an indigenous Abuja person a minister.

    Ndeye, himself an indigene, was speaking on behalf of others, said the omission of an Abuja native from the list of ministerial nominees submitted to the National Assembly was a breach of their constitutional rights and not privileges.

    The indigenous people urged President Muhammadu Buhari to fulfil his promise made to FCT indigenes during his campaign.

    Ndeye said, “It is no longer an issue of pleading but a constitutional right. We can seek legal redress, even if it means taking civil disobedience we would even do a simple peaceful protest to tell the authority this is what we want but we are not ready for violence,” he said.

    He explained that the natives have not seen any indications that an original inhabitant is included or would be included in the list of ministerial nominees whom he said could be the last batch of potential ministers.

    “There are so many areas injustices have been meted to the natives of Abuja and we thought that by this administration and with the party slogan of change we are going to experience change. But we are surprised that nothing new is coming our way.

    “I blame our political leaders, especially the elected area councils chairmen and the National Assembly members, who have failed over the years to organize pressure group in the FCT, irrespective of political party affiliation and differences like our past Nigerian leaders who in one voice in different parties sang one chorus for our independence,” he said.

     

  • Medical doctor urges Akwa Ibom indigenes to be health conscious

    The Chief Executive Officer, House of Diagnosis, Medical Diagnostics Service Eket, Akwa Ibom, Dr Kelechi Anyanso, has advised the indigenes of the state to be more health conscious.

    Anyanso spoke last weekend during a three-day free medical test and treatment with the theme: “Caring for the Masses,” in Eket Local Government Area.

    She said the people should continue to be conscious of their health, environment and life-style patterns, to minimise the development of diseases in their bodies.

    Anyanso also advised the people to visit medical experts for regular check up.

    “We should also strive to widen our knowledge of disease prevention as we carefully listen to the numerous workshop and seminar packaged for us in the course of the event.

    “Sometimes, we are the causes of our own sickness, sometimes we do not know because I am sure if we know better we will not do things that will make us sick,’’ she said.

    She said the free medical test and treatment was to commemorate the 55th Independence Anniversary Celebration of the country.

    She added that the essence of the free medical test and treatment was to add value and reach out to the people.

    Anyanso expressed commitment to make the House of Diagnosis to become a global phenomenon in the field of diagnosis, research and a one-stop shop for any kind of investigative procedure.

    “We are using this forum to give back to the community that has welcomed and accommodated us for years,’’ she said.

    Anyanso said that beneficiaries were treated for different kinds of sicknesses included malaria, typhoid, fever, cancer and HIV.

    She explained that if the treatment could not be handled by Diagnosis House, she referred them to the hospital.

    She said that the institution was collaborating with the Society for Family Health (SFH) and Family Health International (FHI) to achieve its objectives.

    Dr Ogbobe Clement, one of the doctors in the House, said that diagnosis entailed treatments of ailments and creation of awareness of the ailments to the people.

    Clement said the House would continue to seek and promote preventive measures rather than curative measures.

    He noted that some of the ailments could be cured if detected earlier.

    “We are also here to correct some misconceptions bordering on some health issues; we all know that HIV is not a killer disease any more.

    “You can live comfortable with it and live your normal life with it; if you know your status early and do what you expected to do,’’ he said.

    Chairman of the occasion, Chief Assam Usoro, thanked the organisers for improving the life of the people, saying that health is wealth.

    Usoro urged other professional bodies to take a cue from the House.

    He called on the indigenes to come out en-mass and make the best out of the free medical test and treatment in the area.

    He advised the people to check their status regularly, to maintain a good healthy living.

    Chairman, Eket Transitional Committee, Mr Frank Archibong, expressed appreciation to the organisers.

  • Indigenes urge Buhari, EFCC to probe FCDA officials

    Indigenes of Dagbalo community in Apo area of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC )  to investigate the activities of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) officials in respect of allocation of plots, especially those whose

    Certificates of Occupancy were approved in less than the stipulated one year.

    The indigenes through their leader,  Rev. Danjuma Tanks, who made this call on behalf of the community, insisted that if the investigation on what he described a the nefarious  activities of FCDA officials commences, it will aide in healing the wounds suffered by indigenes of Abuja.

    Rev. Tanko said the Indigenes who affected by the ill fated activities of the FCDA were subjected to untold hardship and all manners of inhuman treatment by the past Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed.

    According to him, the FCTA through the department of Ressetlement and Compensation took a bulldozer two years ago, which was July 30, 2013 to demolish the entire Dagbalo community and destroyed their farm lands  without any ressetlement or compensation.

    “They allocated the same area to one Mr. Owuora, the owner Owuora group of companies. It took the FCDA officials, led by the director of Ressetlement and Compensation, Mr Francis Okechuckwu five days,  in company of well armed Military personnel in a pickup van to wipe off our entire community.

    “Our people who were helpless and armless,  could do nothing,  but to report the matter to the nearest Police division at Apo, where we advised to go to court  and the case has been in court for the past two years now. All efforts by our Counsel to ensure quick dispensation of justice has proved abortive. This is therefore causing untold hardship and more suffering to our people, even as we squatting with our neighbours.

    “Also,  about this time last year, the FCDA called for settlement out of  court, which we did not object to. But,  for the past five months now, they have  failed to fulfil the promises they made to us.  Instead, they tried to lobby me to sell out my community and I bluntly rejected it. So, we are back in court and since then, the FCDA has resorted to delaying the court procedures, without respect to the judicial process .

    “Counsel to the FCDA has joined in frustrating the case by failing to tender his redress for adoption, which ought to have been been done since July, 2015, before the court went on recess, but neither the director nor their defense counsel were in court to tender  their redress for adoption. Now,  the resumption the next adjournment has been shiftedOctober 17, 2015.

    “We are appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari, who we see as an act of God to liberate us from our suffering,  through his anticorruption campaign to investigate the nefarious activities of the FCDA and they way they are subjecting indigenes of the FCT to immeasurable suffering by forcefully confisticating their land without due compensation and resettlement,”he said.

    Tanko further appealed to President Buhari to instruct the incoming minister of the FCT to ensure that their communities which were wrongly demolished by the FCDA and allocated to a single developer are restored to the people,  saying that as it is presently,  none of the affected indigenes have any place to call their villages or hometown.

     

  • Centenary City: Indigenes seek inclusion in compensation

    Indigenous people of Gude, Sauka and Dakibiyu communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have cried out against being left out when communities affected by the Centenary City project are compensated.

    They have also called for the revaluation of their economic trees and crops.

    Over 199 native people in the three communities affected lamented what they described as irregularities and deception in the assessment and valuation of their economic trees and crops, saying that they were unduly influenced and that the process lacked transparency.

    The natives through their counsel, Mr. James Ndeye, a lawyer, are appealing to the federal government and the FCT administration to do a mop-up in the valuation or conduct another assessment and valuation.

    Ndeye, who addressed journalists in Abuja on the presumed wrongful manner in which the natives were cheated during the valuation of the economic trees and crops, said that about 250 hectares of land was acquired for the project in the three communities.

    He added during and after the assessment and valuation of economic trees and crops on their farmlands, only officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), the Centenary City representative, the private consultant and the farm owners’ committee chairman went round the entire 250 hectares of land without the participation of the individual farm owners.

    “It was a fraudulent exercise since no amount was disclosed to farm owners before collection and signing of cheque as they were unduly influenced to collect cheque first before seeing the amount written on it,” Ndeye said.

    While stressing the need for government authorities to revisit the valuation process, he said inadequate compensation will not only be a scourge to the natives, but a gradual extinction of their livelihood and their generation yet unborn.

    He said all the affected farm owners were paid about N26 million, with the highest paid farm owner receiving N885, 000 for his 14 hectare while the least paid farm owner was N10, 000.

    Ndeye said the aggrieved natives would have to seek redress by taking legal action in a competent court of jurisdiction to challenge the mode or manner of acquisition of farmlands by the authorities in charge of the Centenary City Project.

     

  • Indigenes urge Buhari to set up committee on Centenary City

    TO resolve the problems associated with the compensation and resettlement of affected communities in the Abuja Centenary City Project, youths in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the auspices of Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment Organisation (AOIYEO) have called on the Federal Government to immediately set up a Committee to address the issue.

    The youth said while they remain peace-loving people and believe in the sincerity and deep commitment of the present administration to protect their rights and restore their benefits, they may have no option but to engage in violence to press for their rights as guaranteed, if the right thing is not done.

    President of the indigenous youth organisation, Commandant Isaac David, who spok at a briefing, said  they were aware that in other parts of the country, indigenes had resorted to the use of violence and disruption of state activities to press for their rights.

    David, who said the Committee would ensure a peaceful process during the execution of the Centenary City Project, suggested that the Committee members should include the Presidency, Centenary City Management, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Security Services, traditional rulers, area councils, indigenous NGOs, youth representatives and members of the National Assembly.

    “We know our rights as provided for in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and we cannot continue to watch while our rights are fragrantly abused even by individuals such as Centenary City Plc. It can be seen that the management of Centenary City Plc has been very economical with the truth.

    “We demand that the Management of Centenary City give a breakdown of the expenditure of the N1.237billion and the N65million they [were allegedly] paid as compensation to the original inhabitants. This has become worrisome as the traditional rulers, the President of the Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment Organisation and other stakeholders in the affected communities are been threatened that they connived with the Management of Centenary City to divert money meant for them.

    “We need explanation on these issues and especially what happened to the land carved out of the permanent site of the University of Abuja for the resettlement of the indigenes who had infrastructure in their land. Who are the new allotees of the land? The Management of Centenary City should stop engaging in rhetoric and provide the facts so that the issues will be resolved in a transparent and accountable manner,” he said.

    They further said that arising from this, they sincerely advise the Centenary City Plc to stop forthwith further activities in the affected communities located in the Kuje and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) until the issues concerning the compensation and resettlement are fully resolved.

    “We want to thank the Government for the opportunity given to us to present our perspective on the programme of the Centenary City as it affects the original inhabitants of the FCT.

    “On Friday, August 28, 2015, the Management of the Centenary City Plc met with the President to address the controversies, alleged corruption, incongruities and negative media reports on the activities of the Centenary City Plc in the execution of the Centenary City Programme.

    “While we acknowledge the enormous benefits the Centenary City will bring to the country, we wish to express our appreciation to the Government for expressing their concern for the recognition of the rights of the original inhabitants,” he said.

  • Indigenes seek upgrade of chiefdom

    The Abuja’s original inhabitants of Garki community, have called on the incoming Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to the upgrade the Garki chiefdom.

    They said, “The community is old enough to be controlled by a higher chief.”

    One of the leaders of the community, Rev. Danjuma Tanko, spoke on behalf of the natives to reporters, saying that the existence of Garki village goes as far back as 120BC, before the white missionary and industrialisation of Nigeria.

    He added that there is the need to grant the traditional institution in the FCT, the rights benefits on their thrones, so that they can contribute immensely in areas of promoting peace and other governmental affairs.

    He lamented that what the people of Garki has been experiencing from past administrations, without appreciating the sacrifice that have been made by the people of Abuja, saying that no government has shown sympathy to the people for their land that were forcefully taken away

    from them.

    “I must say that it is painful that after indigenes of Abuja have made sacrifices of giving their ancestral land for the development of the FCT, the past governments have not even see reasons to make us benefit from the government.

    “We are appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to revisit the case of the FCT, also for him tore-address the rating of traditional institutions, in which he should use his good offices to upgrade the Chief of Garki, as a sign of considering the sacrifice we have made for the purpose of uniting Nigeria.

    “It is obvious that we have been denied equal participation in governance and polity. We have not been given any executive appointment; we have been denied quota system, no political elective positions as in states, not even equivalent or alternatives, considering the larger population increase.

    “The most shameful thing happening outside out community is where you find some traditional rulers who are supposed to be fighting for our course, running after government-appointed officers, just for their personal gains, instead of concentrating in their traditional

    responsibilities. It is wrong for a traditional ruler to do such,” he said.

  • Indigenes demand inquest into land allocation

    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.