he continuous demand from natives of Abuja to be given a ministerial slot has always fallen on the deaf ears of past administrations, despite Supreme Court judgment stating that Abuja should be treated as one of the states in Nigeria, which made the FCT qualified to have a minister from among its people.
As a new administration assumed office since May 29, 2023, the natives have started raising their voices to get the attention of the government of President Bola Tinubu, with the hope that this time, their voices would be heard and their demands would be met.
The secretary of Kpaduma communities, Simon Baba-Yerima, expressed confidence in the present administration to grant the natives their ministerial demand and that they get a representative in the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Baba-Yerima lamented that they have been marginalised for too long, and that they need proper recognition in the scheme of things in Nigeria. “We need to be part of the decision-making bodies of this great nation. That is why this is our time to get a minister from among our people, who will represent our interest in the FEC meeting.
“Abuja is old enough to be seen as a state and even the court has given us judgment in respect to that. So, I do not see the reason why we are denied the right to have an indigene as one of the ministers in Nigeria. But, I believe that President Tinubu will do the right thing and write his name with gold in the history book of Nigeria.
“I strongly believe he will do justice to this demand, just the way he promised he will do justice to every Nigerian. And he will give equal rights to all Nigerians based on their legal presentation. So, we are appealing with a very loud voice that the President, should look at the tears of the indigenous people of FCT and put an end to this marginalisation once and for all,” he said.
Also, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Abuja Original Inhabitant Youth Empowerment Organisation (AOIYEO) Ambassador Isaac David said that an indigene of Abuja deserves to be appointed as a minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ensure the success of the ruling All Progressive Party (APC) in the capital territory.
“The ruling party has been finding it difficult to win elections in the FCT because the wrong people are always appointed to be ministers of the FCT. They should appoint an indigenous person as the minister of the FCT and see the difference.
“If a Muslim and Muslim administration can emerge in Nigeria and we have peace in this country, it means an indigenous person can become a minister of the FCT and there will be peace. Also, to the president, it is a slap for the ruling party to continue to lose elections in the FCT,” he said.
