COALITION OF FCT INDIGENEOUS GROUPS/RESIDENTS:


WORRIED OVER THE NON INCLUSION OF FCT ORIGINAL INHABITANTS FOR MINISTERIAL SLOT AND OTHER DEPRIVATIONS. 8TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2015.

This is a gathering of FCT Indigenous Groups/Residents agitating for a fair representation and as well seeking for justice as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

We wish to draw the attention of Mr. President to the fact in the time past, the original inhabitants of FCT in various capacities have agitated over non recognition of its status as a State and disregard for Ministerial appointments through write-ups, personal letters from the FCT natives and our political representatives in the National Assembly.

Our worries became eminent sequel to the recent list of ministerial nominees sent by Mr. President to the Senate on the 30th of September, 2015 which was made public on the 6th of October, 2015 with no FCT Original Inhabitants making the list having been optimistic owning to Mr. President’s inaugural speech that states “I belong to nobody and I belong to everybody”. But this statement became illusive and as a matter of fact an act of disillusionment not to have been included in the list.

In the light of the above, we therefore wish to once again draw the attention of Mr. President to Section 147(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) that he swore to uphold, which states that “Any appointment under the provisions under subsection (2) of this section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of this section. Provided that in giving effect to the provisions aforesaid, the President shall appoint at least one Minister from each State, who shall be an indigene of such State.

Similarly and most importantly, having stated above, it is clear that FCT is a State, which should be treated as such as enshrined in section 299 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). More so that this section was also interpreted by the Court of Appeal in the case of Okoyode Vs FCDA WRN 97 at page 125 confirming that FCT in law is a State.

We wish to further bring to the notice of Mr. President that though the FCT Original Inhabitants have been marginalized for the 39 years shouldn’t be seen as a weakness, but because we still seem to find solace with the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari in whom we believe will do justice by righting the wrongs thaw out to the Original Inhabitants of the FCT by appointing one of our own in his subsequent list of nominees.

OUR PRAYERS ARE that:
a. An Original Inhabitants of FCT be appointed a Minister

b. We demand that FCT be given a 2nd tier government to carter for the Original Inhabitants as applicable in other States i.e Administrative and Political structure of FCT.

c. We demand appointments of FCT Original Inhabitants as Chairmen of Boards into the Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies MDS’s etc.

In conclusion, we wish to categorically state here that we shall continue to support Mr. President in whichever capacity to making sure that the administration succeeds given the benefit of doubt, but we shall at the same time stop at nothing but will explore all avenues to ensuring that our demands are met rather than being overlooked.

Long live the Original Inhabitants of FCT
Long Live the FCT Administration
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Signed:
Comrade, Dalhatu Ezekiel
For: Coalition of FCT Indigenous Groups

Na today?

has this list been published yet?

I haven't seen anything, only rumours.