Media Group Urges Tinubu To Restore Rights Of Abuja’s Original Inhabitants

The Network of Journalists on Indigenous Issues (NEJII) has requested that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu address some pressing issues affecting the rights of Abuja Original Inhabitants (AOIs).

The media group that made the call stated that the federal government needs to take immediate steps to address the lingering expectations of the original owners of Abuja, thereby avoiding a possible crisis.

In a letter addressed to the President by NEJII officials, Adewale Adeoye and Usman Bako, they stated that the letter was motivated by a week-long tour of indigenous communities spread across over 800 locations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“We visited these ancient communities, and we have a message for the President. The indigenous people face challenges that include but are not limited to forceful displacement from their ancestral land, forceful occupation without compensation, destruction of ancient and sacred temples and ancestral worship places and the lack of political and economic recognition in the FCT. The indigenous people of Abuja are Koro, Ganagana, Gbade, Ebira, Nupe, Gbayi, Bassa, Gwandara, Amwamwa and others.’’

The group stated that the communities felt that by appointing an Abuja indigenous person as a Federal Minister, the president had set a remarkable threshold, leaving the impression that he understands the problem and can do more by addressing institutional and legal bottlenecks to the true freedom and prosperity of the people.

NEJII informed the president that the Abuja Indigenous peoples are living in the most horrendous socio-political situation.

According to them, although they own and live in Abuja, their children have no access to education. They also report that the communities still fetch water from a filthy pond, and several youths are unemployed.

“Our communities have no access to health centres, the roads to rural communities are in terrible conditions, and lately, trees and forests, which are the sources of our health and energy to prepare food, are being destroyed by various interests claiming to represent the Government.

“We have been driven to the extreme edge of human survival, living in agony and anguish, with hope being the main source of our survival.’’

The media group stated that the letter was delivered to the Special Assistant to the President on Media (SA) to the President, Mr Tunde Rahman.