Indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the aegis of Garki Kingdom Elite Forum has called on the FCT Minister, Mallam Mohammed Bello, to integrate all settlements of the original inhabitants of the FCT into the master plan in line with the Global Resettlement Policy. The FCT indigenes also called for a halt on what they described as forceful acquisition of properties belonging to them. Addressing a press conference yesterday in Abuja, chairman of the forum, Elder John, said the demand became urgent to avoid unnecessary provocation of the FCT natives. The provocation, he claimed, was warranted by the federal government’s seeming determination to take over the homes, farms and business premises of the natives of the FCT. “We have tried for a long time at different fora to draw the attention of all relevant authorities to this fact, but it has continued unabated. “As law-abiding citizens, we have lived peacefully and have given our maximum cooperation to the federal government, which enabled the development so far achieved in the FCT, but without their reciprocating same to us. “Instead, we are daily harassed, intimidated and our homes destroyed and our divine-given land confi scated. We are now pushed to the wall and feel we should let Nigerians and the whole world to know our plight.” ccording to him, the forum has made efforts to bring government to the table for a peaceful resolution without getting satisfactory answers. The natives also demanded that on the interim, all ongoing projects within their settlements should be put on hold while the template is being designed and adopted, that this action must be communicated to all stakeholders and must be published in bothelectronic and print media. The natives who explained that the global resettlement policy gave option to the original inhabitants to be settled or resettled within or outside of the territory depending on their choice, advised that the policy be adopted and implemented where all settlements of indigenes of the FCT should be integrated into the master plan. “Over the years, we have taken our case to the National Assembly, which invited us a couple of times. We have also written to and met with FCTA authorities on many occasions, but nothing has been done to address the issue that bothers on the incessant invasion of the peaceful existence of Abuja natives, and the constant security threat, trespass of our land and other sundry issues.” Elder John said that the forum recently wrote to the FCT Minister, Mallam Musa Bello, to remind him of another letter he received from the forum on 7th of November last year, which contained 8 requests that the federal government should give priority attention to. “As we await the response or action of the FCT Minister, we want to clearly state that we have run out of patience. And if prompt action is not taken, as demanded ,or if no better and acceptable approach is adopted, we will not have any other option but to stand up in defense of our homes, farms, business premises and, more importantly, our lives and the future of our children,” he said.
