Group Seeks Appointment Of A Minister From FCT

The need for an indigene of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT to be appointed as a Minister by the Tinubu Administration has been stressed .

A group under the aegis of
Young People’s Initiative For Credible Leadership made the called in a statement by its
Executive Director, Comrade Abdulwahab Ekekhide in Abuja.

Comrade Ekehide agued that since the return to democracy in 1999, the FCT has been politically marginalised and discriminated against and that it was time to change the trend.

He expressed dissapointment that since the creation of the FCT, a Minister has never been appointed from amongst the natives or non-natives practising politics in the Territory, especially those that have voting rights and political influence.

As Civil Society we see this as a national disservice to the people of FCT, hence we call for an affirmative action for FCT in the appointment of Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Comrade Ekehide therefore urged President Bola Tinubu to break what he called a political jinx so that an FCT native can sit at the Federal Executive Council for the first time.

According to him, “We believe that the people of FCT deserves to be represented in the Federal Executive Council as Cabinet member(s).

“We want to use this medium to appeal to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR to use his powers to nominate a competent person from amongst the rich poll of FCT Technocrats, Political Scientists, Politicians, Seasoned Administrators and a host of other very qualified persons who have voting rights and political influence in the Territory as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as an affirmative action for inclusiveness.

“The President can break any encumbrances militating against the appointment of an FCT person as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by invoking his powers to select the North Central Ministerial candidate from the FCT.

“Democracy is all about participation and the people of FCT are active participants in the Nigerian electoral processes, hence deserves recognition, appreciation and reward for their active participation in the politics of Nigeria as the essence of politics is for benefit to the people, but FCT has been denied this benefit since 1999.

“The FCT is politically marginalised and discriminated against to the extent that when a Minister is appointed, he/she in turn imports persons from other States who do not vote or have political influence in the FCT to occupy government executive positions (eg. Mandate Secretaries and other government appointments etc), leaving the NATIVES and NON-NATIVES that have voting rights and political influence with nothing in government, thereby denying the people of FCT political dividends as these appointees oftentimes, especially during electioneering periods relocate back to their various States of origin where they have voting and political influence, leaving the people of FCT with no political leaders to turn to, and this has always affected the outcomes of FCT elections negatively because the people are not politically empowered”

PR /Victorson Agbenson EDITED BY GRACE NAMIJI