The Natives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ending the clamour for a native of the FCT to be appointed a minister of the Federal Republic of Niger
The Coordinator of Mandate FCT, Elder Danjuma Tanko Dara, who spoke on behalf of the natives on Friday at a press briefing in Abuja, also applauded Tinubu for finding one of the indigenes of the FCT, Hon. Zephaniah Bitrus Jisalo worthy of nomination for a ministerial position.
Dara, who said Jisalo’s appointment had finally ended their clamour for the ministerial slot for the FCT, noted that with the development, Tinubu had written his name in gold in the history of Nigeria because this is the first time, Abuja indigene was included in the list submitted to National Assembly for screening.
According to the elder statesman, President Tinubu has proven that he is a listening president who understands the plight of his people and that this is the first time that Abuja’s original inhabitants will have the opportunity to be part of governance.
“President Tinubu will be remembered forever in the history of Abuja natives, as the first president of Nigeria that listened to the yearnings of the natives of Abuja and decided to end the marginalization melted on the people.
“He has proven to be the only and first president in the history of this country to have listened to our yearnings since 1976 when our people have been running from pillar to post against persecution, marginalization, and right infringement.
“He has given us a sense of belonging, he had made a bold step to renew our hope in the unity and progress of the country, now we are proud to say that we are true Nigerians because we have been allowed to be part of the decisions making body in Nigeria,” he said.
The natives said that now that their ministerial demands have been met, also appealed to President Tinubu to ensure that the FCT is given the status of a complete state, with all state apparatus.
“While we sincerely appreciate the president for proven to be a father to all of us, and has shown that he is a Democrat. What we want now is the full implementation of the status of the FCT as a state.
“So, there should be legislation, so that in the next election, the INEC should be instructed to conduct all executive and legislative positions, like the governorship, state houses of Assembly, and the local government in the FCT, in line with the constitution of the three tiers of government, just like other states of the federation.
“We sincerely appreciate that the president has shown that he is a true democrat, and we are praying that he would be able to ensure that balance of participation and equity in governance,” he said.
FCT natives hail Tinubu over indigene’s inclusion on ministerial list
