A socio-political group Ikenga Ndi Igbo Progressives Union Worldwide has demanded the inclusion of other Nigerians, especially people from Igbo extraction of holding sensitive elective positions in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
This is even as it rejected the exclusion of non-indigenes in the Federal Capital Territory from appointments into Federal, FCT and Area Council boards accruing to the territory.
In a statement jointly signed by its President, Hon. Alfred Ozoemena and the Secretary, Chief Victor Uche Okei, the association alleged that the political space has deliberately been skewed against the collective interest of other Nigerians who are bona-fide citizens of the FCT, in violation of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The group stated that: “It is very disheartening and worrisome to further note that the major political parties going by electoral victories did not consider other Nigerians in FCT fit and capable of being the chairmanship candidate for 2022 Area Council elections.
“This development is even more disgusting when the 62 councillorship candidates for all the political parties contesting for the election did not attempt to reflect the diverse composition of FCT citizens. When a group of people hijack what belong to all, while others work for nothing is the kind of injustice that will not allow progress to exist.”
It further noted that other Nigerians in FCT constitute not only the highest tax payers, but also the dominant revenue generating group in all the 6 Area Councils in FCT.
According to the statement “We may not wish to bother you with verifiable records of immense contributions of other Nigerians to the political and social development of the FCT.
The electoral value of these people, particularly the Igbo extraction is a major determinant of electoral victory in the FCT.
“It is also on record that through mischief and cunning, other Nigerians have been excluded from the leadership structure of the frontline political parties in order to conveniently ease non-indigenes out of political relevant in the FCT.
“It is also on record that other Nigerians in FCT have over the years been excluded from both Federal, FCT and Area council, board and committee appointments accruable to FCT. This is discriminatory and unacceptable.”
For equity, the association demands inclusion of other Nigerians in the leadership hierarchy available in political parties as well as elective positions in governance.
“We are builders. This is verifiable and has also been acknowledged over the years. We intend to continue in the political development partnership with the initial inhabitants of FCT without compromising our inalienable rights to political leadership in FCT.
“We are determined and have resolved to ensure that other Nigerians particularly of Igbo extractions must be on the ballots for council chairmanship and many councillorship slots for the forthcoming February 2022 elections. You may take this as notice of our preparedness to mobilize other Nigerians to support our candidates.”
