By Joseph Mekwunye
The aborigines, who are the original inhabitants of the FCT include the Gbagyi people, Ebira people, Koros, Nupes, the Bassas, the Gades, The Gwandaras and the Dibos among others.
With the several years of cries of marginalization and yearnings for inclusion in the affairs of the administration of the Federal Capital Territory, since inception and existence for over 40 years, the election and coming into power of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has brought smiles and celebrations to the indigenous people of FCT. For the first time in over 40years, the people have someone amongst them listed, screened, cleared and appointed into the Federal Executive Council of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the person of RT Hon. Zephaniah B Jisalo as Hon. Minister for special Duties.
Again, for the first time in the existence of FCT the indigenous people of FCT received from the president Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during the last Sallah and Christmas celebrations, bags of rice and cows to each of the Nine Chiefdoms that make up the FCT and all the ingredients to go with it. To the people, this has gone a long way to show recognition which was lacking in the past and also a high sense of inclusion. The people has said that this is indicative of triumph over most of the neglects and degradation which they have suffered over the decades.
The aborigines, as we know, for some of us who have lived among them, related with them deeply and also felt their pains, have also seen their ancestral land taken over by government fiat with little or no compensation. They can now feel a sigh of relief and has something to be happy for.
The people are pained and disturbed because their land has been taken over through massive land acquisition by government for development through the machinery of the land use Act and past military fiat and this has denied them access to land for agricultural purposes which is their main stay and occupation, for biological resources and also denied them access to land rights as the original owners of the land.
Furthermore, their ancestral groves and ancestral worship places have been taken away to their spiritual peril.
Politically, the people express deep regret and concerns that they are never given opportunity to vote for a governor during gubernatorial elections in Nigeria as other citizens of Nigeria in other States, since they don’t belong to any of the 36 states of the federation because FCT is not a state, meaning that the constitutional right of every citizen to vote for a governor to oversee the affairs of the people of every state has been taken away from them.
With this gesture and display of high sense of recognition given to them by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu the people are happy and have seen this as a sign of better days ahead.
The Honourable Minister of the FCT, “the Usain Bolt Minister” Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON, being a “round peg in a round hole”, has taken clue from Mr. President and is executing exactly the mandate of the President (of renewed hope). Immediately after his swearing in, “the Usain Bolt Minister” Nyesom Wike, hit the ground running as it concerns the traditional stools and indigenous people of the FCT. He immediately paid courtesy calls on the major traditional rulers providing them with vehicles, equipment and other tools necessary for carrying out their day to day administration of their Chiefdoms.
This quick and immediate recognition of the paramount and traditional rulers of the indigenous people of FCT, unlike before, has instilled a high sense of belonging to the people.
He paid homage and courtesy calls on the first class traditional ruler, the Ona of Abaji assuring the other traditional rulers of collaboration in every step of his administration and also seeking their support in ensuring that Mr President’s purpose of appointing him as minister of FCT is accomplished.
The “Usain Bolt Minister” went ahead to appoint one of the sons of the soil, a Gbagyi man, Hon Bitrus L. Garki as the mandate Secretary, the equivalent of a commissioner in a State for Area Councils and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Also bringing drastic & fundamental reforms in the administration of the FCTA, the minister appointed an indigene Mrs Grace Adayilo as a permanent Secretary Agricultural Development Secretariat. She has since been upgraded to the position of the Head of Service of the FCT administration. This is the first of its kind.
In demonstration of his commitment to the continuous happiness, peace, security and general welfare and good administration of the chiefdoms and the original inhabitants of the FCT, on the 2nd day of May 2024, “Usain Bolt Minister” Nyesom Wike approved the nomination and appointed three traditional rulers for three Chiefdoms, Karu chiefdom, Kwali and Kuje in FCT.
This is worthy of note as Wike, without delay in his characteristic nature of always wanting justice and fair-play, approved and appointed only those nominated, screened and cleared as the choice of the people and who are the rightful heirs to the throne as recommended by the Kingmakers of each of the Chiefdoms.
It is said that in the past, confusion, chaos and violence, usually mar the process, due to interference from various quarters even from government officials and religious leaders.
But in his natural characteristics, of “Inye ndi eba, Inye ndi eba” the Hon “Usain Bolt Minister”, Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, ensured justice, equity and fairness was the order of the day in this worthy appointment.
I should use this medium to say a big congratulation to His Royal Highness, the Sakaruyi of Karu Kingdom, Sunday Danfulani Narayi my friend and confidant, who was my contemporary and our councillorship candidate in our days in the ALL Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2010.
May I also use this opportunity to thank our leader and immediate past senator of the Federal Capital Territory, Sen. Philip Tanimu Aduda, for his selflessness and patriotism in volunteering to guide and assist ““Usain Bolt Minister”” in his development efforts in the FCT. Please guide and direct him aright putting into consideration every interest in FCT and eschewing all ethnic bias.
• Barr. Mekwunye is Abuja based Constitutional Lawyer, prolific writer and General Co-ordinator of Set Time Skill Acquisition Initiative.