The public complaint commission has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to include natives of the federal capital territory in his government in their quest for justice.
Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja, the commissioner representing FCT, Dalhatu Ezekiel Musa emphasized the need for federal inclusion, particularly regarding national policies that directly impact the lives of FCT Natives.
‘Allow me to begin by asserting that we are no longer engaged in a debate over whether the FCT is a state’ The Supreme Court, through a landmark judgment, has unequivocally settled the contentious issue surrounding Section 299 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Today, we confidently assert that the FCT is recognized as a state under the law, Dalhatu said.
Furthermore, he lamented the issue of exclusion that has kept the natives backwards. ‘speaking specifically about federal inclusion, I draw attention to the significant ruling of the Court of Appeal on January 15, 2018. The court ruled that the President should appoint an FCT Native as a member of the Federal Executive Council’
He added that since the judgment, they have consistently advocated and appealed to the conscience of each Commander-in-Chief to prioritize the appointment of FCT Native as a minister during the cabinet formation process but no positive response has been given to them.
He added that their ‘renewed hope’ lies in the belief that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, will recognize the abundance of highly qualified FCT natives and select a suitable cabinet member from among us.
‘We have faith that President Tinubu, in line with his body language since assuming office, will inspire confidence in the Nigerian populace through his commitment to dispensing justice and leading our nation in a new direction. While lamenting the security challenges in the FCT, he added that ‘it deeply saddens us to acknowledge that the security situation in the FCT has deteriorated significantly’ Particularly in the suburbs, the level of insecurity can now be compared to areas affected by war. Kidnappings and audacious attacks on rural communities have become alarmingly frequent occurrences.
A recent tragic incident involved the kidnapping and subsequent killing of a traditional ruler from the Ketti Community, just after Apo mechanic village, even after the ransom was paid to the abductors. Moreover, overwhelming cases of kidnapping have been reported in areas such as Kuje, Abaji, Kwali, and Gwagwalada, which seem to have become hotspots for these criminal activities, said. We, therefore, call for immediate intervention of the government to stop these incessant attacks on residents of the FCT by criminals.
He further appealed to the new President and Commander in Chief to ensure that the people of the FCT are duly considered and included in the decision-making processes as his government takes shape. We emphasize that the FCT is an integral part of Nigeria, with an active and engaged population. We commend President Tinubu for his courage and efforts thus far, and we are encouraged by the positive strides he has taken, the commissioner said.
