Natives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to appoint an indigene of the FCT as a minister or as head of a board in any of the federal agencies.
The natives made the appeal at a press briefing organised to promote the tradition and culture of the FCT indigenous people yesterday in Abuja.
One of the leaders of the natives, Amos Danlami, said that the natives have been neglected for a long time, adding that it was high time President Tinubu and his advisers look towards the original inhabitants of the city for appointments.
“The longer the appointment of an indigene is left unattended the more we feel left out and deprived of joy that we are supposed to be recognised as a people and community in the FCT,” he said.
While accusing the previous administration of President Muhammad Buhari of neglect and abandonment, they noted that but for the respect they have for their elders who kept persuading them to be calm, it would have been a different issue entirely.
“We have qualified indigene like Dr Gaza who has served in various capacities in the civil service, a Ph.D. holder in Geography. President Tinubu should consider Dr. Lazarus ZakaGaza mni, for a ministerial position or head of a board in any of the federal agencies.
“He is the first elected member of the House of Representatives in the aborted Third Republic, for AMAC/ Bwari Federal Constituency. He was also the Managing Director of the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority.
“So, you see he is a man with a wealth of experience and credibility. The FCT Natives are known as a unique breed of people, our culture shows how much we have come to terms with the universe, we always aspire to give life meaning no matter the situation we find ourselves in,” he added.
In a related development, Dr Gaza who spoke with some journalists pleaded with the FCT youth to hold their peace as he knows President Tinubu as a man who will carry along FCT indigenes in his administration.