Uche Cecil Izuora
The Network of Journalists on Indigenous Issues, (NEJII), has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to work together for a law that promotes the economic and cultural rights of Abuja Original Inhabitants.
At a media conference in Lagos, the NEJII, said the Abuja first nations, made up of eight ethnic nationalities have faced historical injustice that can only be addressed through institutional reforms.
NEJII coordinator, Adewale Adeoye who spoke at the conference held in Lagos said welcome you all to the brief media engagement on Abuja Original Inhabitants, (AOIs).
The call is coming ahead of the United Nations, (UN) International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples which holds on August 8 every year. The event remains a remarkable global event put in place by the UN General Assembly in December 1994. August 8 also serves as remembrance for the first meeting of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations in 1982. Nigeria is home to many indigenous peoples. The Abuja Original Inhabitants, (AOIs) which are Ganagana, Koro, Ebira, Gade, Gbgwari, Nupe are part of this heritage.
He urged the President to initiative an Executive Bill on Abuja Indigenous Inhabitants that, among others, reserves a certain percentage of National Budget of the FCT for the education and health of Abuja Original Inhabitants, (AOIs).
‘The Bill will also legalise priority of corporate and public institutions’ jobs for Abuja Original Inhabitants and the preservation of AOIs languages, so that they could be taught in primary and secondary schools in the FCT plus the preservation of ancestral worship places and groves of AOIs.’
He said the situation of indigenous people in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) is a ticking time bomb. In a country characterised by growing violence, banditry and terrorism, we do not want to see another form of violent resistance coming from any part of the country, not to talk of Abuja, the Federal Capital which presents one of the first images of Nigeria to every foreign visitor’, NEJII said. The event was attended my scores of media practitioners drawn from the print and electronic media.
NEJII said ‘We are deeply concerned about the Abuja Original Inhabitants for so many reasons. Nigeria is currently the epicentre of various violent agitations. These protests that are now violent mostly began as harmless, fair and peaceful agitations.’
Other demands made by NEJII are
The setting up of a Judicial Enquiry into the Cases of historic injustice including but not limited to Land Grab and Seizure of ancestral land at gun point especially by the past Military and Civilian Administrators of Abuja. The Enquiry should examine ancestral land forcefully acquired by the Federal Government and how compensation or outright return of the land can be guaranteed.
That the Federal Capital Territory, FCT should reserve a certain percentage of the annual budget for the promotion of AOIs children education and the development of preservation of AOIs culture.
The percentage reserved for AOIs should be domicile in Abuja Indigenous Peoples Endowment Fund which should be managed by a committee of AOIs selected from the different eight ethnic groups in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT)
That the Presidency should reverse the earlier proposal that there would be no State Police in Abuja. We suugest that there should be Abuja Metropolitan Police drawn from Abuja Original Inhabitants, AOIs
The FCT should promote cultural symbols that appreciate the cultural history of AOIs.
The AOIs are about 2.5million people. As 2027 elections approach, we call for political inclusion of AOIs. At present, they are excluded from voting for State Governors and State Houses of Assembly members. They are also denied opportunities tied to State of Origin.
He said the group’s to AOIs communities paint a gory picture of extreme poverty, lack of access to water, denial of education, lack of electricity, good roads in communities that are few miles far away from. Behind the sprawling, glowing and sparkling city of Abuja lay the wretched of the earth.’
He said the country is in the current quagmire because policy makers failed to nip in the bud a crisis that has now almost engulfed the whole country.
Interestingly, the indigenous people of Abuja have chosen the part of peace, not because they are weak or indolent, but their choice is informed by the need to protect their long held civilisation and culture driven by peaceful co-existence, tolerance and trust.
The people still have trust that the Government will listen to their cries eventhough patience is running out of stock. The conference is with the support of Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education, (CHRICED) and MacArthur Foundation.
Speakers at the conference included the News Editor, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, (FRCN), Mr Fabian Anayo, Deputy Editor of The Nation, Mr Raymond Mordi, Lukeman Olabiyi, of The Sun, Kehinded Gbadamosi of Vanguard, Wale Akinyelure of The Punch, Mrs Seyi Oguntuase of Daily Independent, former Editorial Staff of Tribune Newspapers, Mr Bola Badmus, Mr Chika Izuora of Leadership among many others, Fifteen representatives of Abuja Original Inhabitants, (AOIs) were also at the historic summit.
NEJII said for close to half a century, the Indigenous peoples of Abuja have lived through the tunnel of death and human misery characterised by land seizure, mass displacement, arrests, intimidation and all sorts of marginalisation. The people have continued to speak in low, muffled voices on their plight.
Their land was taken away. The beautiful streams and sacred forests that linked them up with their ancestors were destroyed. The rare plants and animal species, including birds and insects that have shared their territories with them for centuries were scorched or separated away from them.
Little or no compensation was paid. Land owners for generations have for 50 years become tenants on their own land.
The group argued that Abuja Original Inhabitants have endure historic injustice since 1976 when the capital was moved from Lagos to Abuja in 1976 through Decree No. 6 of February 06 launched by General Murtala Mohammed.
50 years after, the AOIs are agitating, crying and full of rage. They wish to be listened to. They want dialogue with the Federal Government on their future. The agitation has been peacefu. Timely resolution is key to the future of conflict resolution and peace building in the Federal Capital Territory.