By Ayodele Oni
Indigenous people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have decried what they call their persistent marginalization in various appointments by the present administration of President Bola Tinubu.
They have therefore demanded for inclusion of Abuja natives in the ongoing ambassadorial nominations currently before the Senate.
The call, made in Abuja by the FCT Senior Citizens Forum, accused the Federal Government of perpetuating a long-running pattern of political exclusion, despite the territory having surrendered its ancestral land for the establishment of the nation’s capital.
The group pointed out that the omission of FCT natives from the newly constituted board of the North Central Development Commission was only the latest example of what they described as decades of marginalization.
Coordinator of the forum, Elder Danjuma Tanko Dara, state that the continued denial of appointments to natives has become intolerable, warning that the President’s electoral legitimacy in 2027 could be affected if the trend persists.
“Enough is enough. From ministerial appointments to board placements and diplomatic postings, we are treated as strangers in our own homeland.
“The recent NCDC board is a fresh wound on an old sore. This pattern of neglect is not just an oversight; it is an injustice that must be corrected for the sake of posterity, equity, and national cohesion,” he said.
Elder Dara reminded the administration of the political significance of the FCT, stressing that the Constitution requires a presidential candidate to secure at least 25 percent of the votes in Abuja, warning that continued neglect was deepening frustration among young natives.
“Mr. President, your path to victory in 2027 legally passes through the FCT. You cannot afford to ignore or marginalize the very people whose mandate you will require for legitimacy. Political wisdom demands that you carry the indigenous people along.
“The persistent marginalization breeds deep-seated resentment and a feeling of alienation among our youth. When a people feel they have sacrificed everything for a national project yet reap only exclusion, it sows seeds of discord and unrest.
“We are the custodians of this land, and a capital city built on the alienation of its original owners is built on a fragile foundation. This is a danger to social harmony and the unity of Nigeria.”
The forum also appealed to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to use his political weight within the federal structure to push for justice and inclusion.
“The Minister is the political head of the FCT. His role is not just about building infrastructure, but also about building bridges and ensuring justice for all residents, especially the natives.
“We call on him to justify the confidence reposed in him by ensuring that the indigenous people of the FCT are adequately represented in the government of President Tinubu. He must be our loudest voice in the corridors of power,” he stated.
Dara stressed that the demand underlined the long-standing tensions around the FCT’s administrative structure, noting that despite hosting the federal government, the nine indigenous ethnic groups, including Gbagyi, Gwandara and Bassa, continue to lack political rights enjoyed by citizens of states.
The forum vowed to escalate the matter formally, saying petitions would be sent to the Presidency, the National Assembly and the Federal Character Commission and urged the Senate to suspend confirmation of the ambassadorial nominees until the exclusion is corrected.
“We are not begging; we are demanding our rightful place at the table of the Nigerian commonwealth. The time for corrective action is now. Let justice be done, so that the peace and development of our great capital city can be secure,” he stated.
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