Natives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the auspices of Karu Indigenous Stakeholders have petitioned the FCT Minister, Mallam Mohammad Bello, to suspend the allocation of lands at Karu Kuchi, adjacent to the Karu site to the original inhabitants of old Karu until a new Sa’Karuyi is enthroned in line with their traditions, culture and heritage.
The natives in a petition to the FCT minister, jointly signed by Shekwaga Anyisa, convener and Sumner Sambo, secretary, dated May 10, 2023, forwarded to journalists yesterday, urged the minister to set up a neutral and unbiased independent investigative committee to probe the lopsided exercise and use of fictitious names by a greedy few persons to corner a large portion of the lands to be allocated by the FCT Administration.
They called for names to be verified and accredited as bonafide original inhabitants of the Karu community in the FCT, saying that they are making this demand because they also have intelligence information that some names were imported from New Karu in Nasarawa state to serve as placeholder beneficiaries for the greedy few.
“In light of the foregoing and considering that Karu Kuchi is our ancestral land and initial abode before our forefathers descended from the hills to our present location, we urgently request that the land allocation process be suspended pending the emergence of a new Sa’Karuyi of Karu who is government-recognised and coronated along with a Staff of Office given to him by the FCT Administration. We believe that doing so would douse the current tension brewing up in the community, which is at a fever pitch, to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
“We humbly appeal that the land allocation process be suspended until the formal installation and enthronement of the new Sa’Karuyi by the approved, authentic, and recognised kingmakers, so that the new Sa’Karuyi who, as tradition demands, is the unifying head, custodian of our lands and father of the community, will take over from the good parts, where his predecessor might have stopped.
“You are widely recognised across borders for your firm stance and disposition to matters of state due to your integrity, equity, fairness, and respect for the rule of law and traditional institutions. This, you have shown and have achieved in all the years that you have steered your stewardship as the Minister of the FCT.
“As such, we encourage you to maintain this outstanding commendation and not allow anyone, no matter his or her status, to persuade you into taking wrong decisions about our people that could only serve their interests, just at the very end of your highly applaudable and commendable administration that has not been tainted by corrupt practices, unlike your predecessors,” the petition stated.
The natives further drew the attention of the minister to the vacuum created by the unfortunate demise of the SA’KARUYI of Karu, HRH Emmanuel Kyauta Yepwi who until his death, was the paramount ruler and chief custodian of the land, heritage, culture, norms, and values.
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