By Daniel Tyokua
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike with strategic stakeholders in the territory have begun dialogue on the need for the residents not to join the planned nationwide protest but to sustain peace in the nation’s capital, Abuja.
Speaking at a town hall meeting over the weekend, the minister told FCT residents that there was a need to allow them air their views on areas that they are aggrieved, rather than joining the protest.
The Minister said protests would not solve any problem but would rather create an opportunity for hooligans to take advantage of the situation to foment trouble.
He warned that the FCT Administration will not allow any protest that is geared towards destruction or to overthrow the government and cautioned residents against aligning with those he described as faceless protesters.
Wike acknowledged that FCT residents have the constitutional right to protest, but cautioned that such protests must be done within the ambit of the law.
“protests do not solve any problem. Protests rather create more problems because hooligans, hoodlums would always want to take advantage to foment problems and create crises”.
Reacting to the purported written requests for permission to protest at the Eagle Square in the FCT, the Minister said he only heard about the request on social media.
He said any request to protest in the FCT must be addressed to his office, adding that certain conditions must also be fulfilled before the requests are granted.
“Who are these people who want to protest? I’m just reading on social media that they’ve applied to me to grant the Eagle Square. Do you apply to me through social media? You will write a letter to the Minister. Who are you? I will see you. What do you want to do? How many days do you want to spend? How much will you pay?
“When people want to do propaganda in everything; I watched them on Channels News telling the IG I have applied. You don’t apply to me through Channel. You must apply properly. You must pay what they call security cost so that if there is any damage with the facilities, we take that security cost and repair.
“We don’t just give people just because you have applied. You will fulfill the condition”.
Noting that peace was necessary for the development of any society, the Minister said everything possible would be done to see that peace is maintained in the FCT.
He therefore thanked the stakeholders in the FCT including the traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organizations and representatives of youth groups, as well as women leaders for their support to the FCT Administration and for committing to peace building in the FCT and assured them of continued dialogue..
In his remarks, the Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Christopher Maikalangu thanked the Minister for organizing the town hall meeting and for giving FCT residents the opportunity to air their grievances.
The Chairman said the cumulative grievances in the country could only be solved by constructive engagements and urged FCT residents to shelve the planned protest, adding that the government was committed to addressing the challenges in the country.
On his part, the Ona of Abaji, Dr Adamu Yunusa, who spoke on behalf of the 17 Graded Chiefs of the FCT also thanked the FCT Minister for organizing the town hall meeting and for providing an opportunity for interaction with residents of the FCT.
Yunusa who was represented by the HRH Ismaila Mohammed MFR the Sarkin Karshi, said the indigenous population in the FCT have been sensitized on the need to shun the protests adding that they have also been warned of the implications.
The Onah said that the traditional rulers were working with the security agencies to ensure peace and security in their various domains.
Contributing, the Chief Imam of Area 10 Mosque, Yahaya Ayo, stressed the importance of peace in the development and economic growth of the FCT and assured that the worship centres in the FCT will not be part of the planned protests, even as he pledged to continue to pray for the peace and progress of the country.
Representative of CAN President, FCT Chapter, Pastor Michael Bona, from the Christian angle, also thanked the FCT Minister for his transformative efforts in the FCT and called for meaningful engagement of the youths to rightly channel their energy into productive activities.
Chairman National Youth Council of Nigeria (FCT branch), Suleiman Ango also thanked the FCT Minister for organizing the town hall engagement and revealed that Nigerian youths, following several meetings, have unanimously agreed that there would be no protest in the FCT.
Ango, however, called for the empowerment of the youths in FCT and also appealed for the creation of a Secretariat for youth affairs.
President, National Council for Women Societies, NCWS, Hajia Hadiza, said FCT women were against the planned protests which she said would cause more harm than good.
She acknowledged the transformative efforts of the Minister in the FCT and called for further interactions with the Minister.
