By Stellamaries Amuwa
The indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) known as FCT Natives have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint one of their own as minister or better still, as head of board in any of the federal agencies.
The appeal was made known at a press briefing organised to promote the tradition and culture of the FCT indigenous people yesterday in Abuja.
According to the head of the group, Amos Danlami, he stated that his people have been neglected for long and it’s high time the president and his advisers look towards the original inhabitants of the city for appointments.
“The longer the appointment of an Indigene is left unattended to, the more we feel left out and deprived of joy that we are supposed to be recognised as people and community in the fct,” he said.
Accusing the previous administration of President Buhari of neglect and abandonment, they noted that, but for the respect they have for their elders who kept persuading them to be calm, it would have been a different issue entirely.
Also Danlami said President Tinubu should consider an indigene for a ministerial position.
“We have qualified indigene like Dr. Gaza who has served in various capacity in the civil service, a PhD holder in Geography. Infact, President Ahmed Tinubu should consider Dr. Lazarus Zaka Gaza mni. for a ministerial position or head of board in any of the federal agencies.
“He’s the first elected member of House of Representative in the aborted Third Republic, for Amac / Bwari Federal Constituency. He was also the Managing Director of Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority. So you see he’s a man with wealth of experience and credibility.”
“The FCT Natives are known as unique breed of people, our culture shows how much we have come to terms with the universe, we always aspire to give life a meaning no matter the situation we find ourselves,” he added.
In a related development, Dr. Lazarus Zaka Gaza PhD , MNI. a former Director, Human Resource Management, Federal capital territory between 2018–2020, former Director, Admin. & Finance. Agriculture & Rural Development Secretariat FCTA between 2015–2016 who spoke with some journalists pleaded with the FCT youth to hold their peace as he knows President Tinubu as a man who will carry along his people in his administration.
Dr. Gaza said, “Tinubu is a man of his words who has contributed significantly to the growth and development of democracy in Nigeria. His pedigree attest to the fact that he can pull the nation to greater heights.
“He is a consummate democrat and the leader of progressives who fought to bring the democratic rule that Nigerians are enjoying today. Tinubu will not leave the FCT Natives behind. I trust him to carry us along in his administration. We are peace-loving, transparent and accommodating people,” he insisted.
It could be recalled that since the creation of FCT in 1976 no indigene has been appointed to any Ministerial position.
