In advanced countries where democracy has thrive for several decades peaceful approach, dialogue, interaction, exchange of ideas as well as carrying everyone along as regards issues of deprivation from development and defense of the forts and rights of the people are the watchwords and modalities used to make agitation of whatever form.
In the third world democracies like ours, however, the reverse is the case. This scenario brings us to the recent calls, by the different lawmakers, representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other stakeholders as well as concerned Nigerians, on President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a native from the FCT.
These agitators are seeking to ascertain why President Buhari is handicapped and keeps violating the 1999 Constitution as amended in his continuous refusal to give the FCT at least a ministerial slot, not necessarily FCT minister as misconstrued by some interest groups.
Reading through an advertorial sponsored by the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu Candido, published on the July 29, 2019 edition of the Daily Trust newspaper, on page 18 to be precise, one is forced to accept the fact that the claims and postulations make a lot of sense.
The first admonition by the AMAC chairman is that the agitation should not be executed through confrontation. Secondly, he said the agitation should also be devoid of religious or regional sentiment and tribalism.
Thirdly, Candido advised on the need for inclusion of zonal member states as well as other well-meaning Nigerians through appeals to the president to forgive the FCT political family and at least compensate the entire FCT with a ministerial slot.
This appeal is borne out of the fact that President Buhari as the then head of state in 1984 increased the number of seven development areas created by former President Shehu Shagari to nine for administrative convenience but made them full-fledged local government areas. These areas include Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Karshi, Kuje, Kwali, Rubochi and Yaba.
The AMAC chairman also recalled how previous civilian administrations since 1999 tactically ignored the clarion call for consideration of any of the FCT tribes for ministerial appointment. It is worthy of note that all the chairman’s well-researched and well written postulations and appeals are worth listening to and given ears and understanding.
How come some ill-in formed, tribal, sectional and religious bigots are misinterpreting that beautiful piece of Abdullahi Candido the other way in order to score cheap political gains? When the Senator representing FCT, Senator Tanimu Aduda, spoke no one gave it wrong a meaning. When the House of Representatives member representing AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency issued a press statement in the July 29, 2019, edition of the Leadership newspaper, no one saw anything wrong in it.
Consequently, whether the political jobbers like it or not, the Abuja municipal chairman has spoken the minds of the generality of Nigerians who are also stakeholders in the FCT. There is nothing wrong with opening the space for other Nigerians to also join in the agitations for the appointment of any FCT tribe as FCT minister.
From the look of things, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is playing politics with the agitation of the appointment of a minister of FCT origin by making it look as if it is only the PDP that is capacitated to fight for the FCT people.
Since 1999, the PDP has produced virtually all the politically elected offices in the FCT, how come they refused to use their contacts at the Presidential Villa, National Assembly and even other quotas to get a ministerial slot?
The current Senator presenting the FCT, Senator Phillip Tanimu Aduda, was an influential member of the Goodluck Jonathan government and was someone the then president trusted so much, but due to selfish interest, he never took the agitation serious then. But now simply because the incumbent president is of the All Progressives Congress (APC), he is politicising the issue.
This posture is unpatriotic and a disservice to the people of the FCT. President Buhari as presented by Abdullahi Candido in his advertorial loves the FCT people. The problem is the sentiments, tribalism and religious differences indigenes themselves attached to their issues and also on matters that affect the well-being, development and fight for their rights.
In a situation where even among the Gbagyi they don’t parley very well, how then do you expect Gwandara, Gade, Bassa, Igbira and Ganagana to unite for a common cause?
The two types of Gbagyi, namely, the “Gwarin Genge and Gwarin Nkwa” who are majorly in Bwari, Kwali, Rubochi, Gwagwalada and Dobi don’t see themselves as one as they discriminate against each other even in religious affiliations. The “Nkwa are predominantly Muslims while the “Genge” are majorly Christians. What cooperation do we expect them to have with other tribes within the FCT?
Ikenna writes from Garki, Abuja.
