By Donald Iorchir
The natives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the auspices of the Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja (OIDA) have appealed to the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd) to scrap the Landswap programme of the outgoing minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed.
The association described the project as a conduit pipe for allocation of massive lands to cronies of the outgoing PDP-led federal government.
In a statement by the President of the association, Pastor Danladi Jeji, the natives who congratulated the President-elect and his vice, Professor Yemi Osibanjo on their victory, said the victory was a right step towards the fulfillment of the aspiration of Nigerians through the ballot box.
The natives further appeal to the Buhari-led government to appoint competent natives of Abuja as minister of the FCT and political aides, so that the incoming government would not have a crisis of confidence between it and Abuja original inhabitants, urging the federal government to ensure that all Nigerians have a say in the people-elected government.
“The election of Gen. Buhari is the fulfillment of our aspiration for a people-centered government and we will offer maximum support to the incoming federal government, which we are optimistic, will have policies that will benefit not only original inhabitants of Abuja, but all Nigerians resident in the capital city.
We also seek a total audit of land allocations by the Abuja Geographic and Information System, AGIS”, the natives stated.
OIDA stated that the natives have fought and endured injustice for long in the administration of the outgoing PDP-led federal government, especially on the protracted issues of land-grab, demolition of native houses, non-development of satellite towns, marginalisation in appointments, non-compensation of compulsorily acquired lands and massive sacking of whole villages for the appropriation of their lands by selfish politicians and their cronies in government.s
They urged the APC-led federal government to create a development commission to cater for displaced indigenous communities in Abuja.
“The proposed Abuja Original Inhabitants Development Commission (AOIDC) should be statutory and derive its funding from 30% of all sales accruing from allocable lands within the FCT.
“When established, AOIDC should deal with the lingering issues of relocation, resettlement and compensation for all project affected communities and persons. We have the confidence in the ability of your government to end these injustices,” OIDA said.