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…seek political autonomy
By Stanley Onyekwere
Natives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have applauded the developmental strides of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike in less than nine months in office, a record they said no other minister has attained since the inception of the FCT.
A major FCT stakeholder, Elder Danjuma Tanko Dara, who made this known on behalf of the natives yesterday in a press briefing, said although Wike’s appointment appeared strange to many party faithful, somebody from an opposition party is given the FCT to govern as a minister, but he has performed wonders, unlike any same party ministers.
He noted that as far as the FCT is concerned, this is the first developmental wonder that any minister of the FCT has ever performed in less than nine months of being appointed as minister.
“That somebody from an opposition party would be able to execute and complete over nine projects in just less than one year in office, more than the projects that any minister of the FCT have been able to execute in all the years that Abuja has been on the ground, which is more than 40 years. It is unbelievable.
“So, we commend him for having an interest in developing the FCT and ensuring that natives and residents are comfortable and safe in the territory. We are hoping that this developmental zeal from the minister will continue till the end of the administration.
“Tinubu did not make any mistake in appointing him as FCT minister despite different party affiliations. Initially, it was a big surprise to us when he appointed him and asked him to lead the FCT because we wondered how he would be able to perform as an opposition party member”, he said.
Dara, who is also an FCT All Progressive Congress (APC) stalwart, said the developmental stride of the FCT minister has boosted their morale, appealing to the minister and his team to continue working as a team and forget those people that are talking about anti party activities, that they should work for Nigerians and not party.
“However, we are calling on the federal government to give us our autonomy. We do not want people from outside Abuja to come and govern us any more.
“We want to continue from where Wike will stop as a minister and lead our people ourselves so that everyone can stay happily in Abuja.
“There are many qualified natives and residents of the FCT that can be appointed as minister of the FCT, who would take proper development to the rural areas, not just only in the urban areas.
“The senior citizens we have in the FCT can perform developmentally like the present minister. So, we should be given our autonomy to lead ourselves”, he said.
He added that they want peace to reign in the FCT, which is why they are appealing that they do not want anybody from the north to be appointed as FCT ministers any more because they want their autonomy as natives democratically.
Dara stressed it would be in the best interest to manage FCT on corruption transparency and accountability, and that would be achieved when sincere democracy is on the ground.
He said: “That is why we are asking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to make a name for himself by ensuring Abuja is being administered democratically with full state status. Our money should be legislated by us and checked.
“It is better to do it now than wait to turn Abuja into a battleground. Hence, we have just noticed a cold war on appointment between the North and Southerners, the worst will be when God gives the indigenous people of Abuja the strength to restore our legitimacy.”
