By Stanley Onyekwere
Soke indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are calling for a fair hearing for the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Engr. Richard Yunana, over the alleged compensation fraud linked to him.
Recall that the media on Monday, was inundated with reports of an purported attempt Yunana, to defraud victims of demolition at Gishiri village, of their compensation.
However, a coalition of civil society organizations in the FCT, yesterday, decried that the media misrepresented the FCT Minister’s utterances at the meeting with stakeholders from Gishiri village.
The group in a joint statement signed by the Abuja Original Inhabitants Youths Empowerment Organization (AOIYEO) the FCT Youths Network, Abuja Original Inhabitants Women Association, Abuja Grassroots Ambassadors and the Coalition of Nigeria Youth on Security and Safety Affairs, called for probe into the fraud allegations, insisting that the Executive Secretary was wrongfully accused.
The statement jointly signed by the President of the AOIYEO, Amb. Isaac Isaac, the Youths leader of FCT Youths Network, Hon. Umar Makeri, Women Leader of the Abuja Original Inhabitants Women Association, Amb. Sarki Sylvia Yemi, Chief Ambassador of the Abuja Grassroots Ambassadors, Yunusa Ahmadu Yusuf as well as the Coalition of Nigeria Youth on Security and Safety Affairs, hinged their stance on the official press release by Director of Press, Office of the FCT Minister.
They maintained that the press release completely absolved the Executive Secretary of the FCDA of any fraud, but rather emphasized on fair compensation for owners of demolished structures in Gishiri Village irrespective of their status as indigenes or non-indigenes.
“The Minister directed officials responsible for the disbursement of compensation funds to ensure that all eligible owners of affected structures receive the full amount of their approved compensation. He warned against any form of malpractice, stating, “Go and pay them their money and the exact amount.
“No where in the statement was Engr. Richard Yunana’s name mentioned. It is rather unfortunate that the career of a thorough bred professional and dedicated civil servant like him, could be brought to disrepute over mere speculation.
“Anyone in doubt of what happened at yesterday’s meeting with the minister can always access the official press statement from the Director of Press, Anthony Ogunleye.
“While we believe that the media has the responsibility of holding government officials accountable, they also owe it to the people to present the facts as they are.
“It may interest you to know that we the civil society organizations in the FCT have taken interest on the demolition, compensation and relocation of affected persons from Gishiri Village.
“We have done our investigations and can tell you that no body was paid before demolition was carried.
“As Civil Society Organizations we are interested in social justice and equity, however we will not stand by and watch an innocent person being wrongfully accused.
“While we understand that there will always be concerns on any amount paid the demolition victims, we must address the issue before this case.
” Is the Executive Secretary responsible for paying compensation? Is that not the responsibility of the Department of Resettlement and Compensation? Why then is the Executive Secretary of FCDA dragged for what he is not directly responsible for”, the statement read part.
They therefore call for a thorough investigation of all those involved in the compensation payment
The natives added that “we, the FCT Coalition of Civil Society Groups, are therefore calling for an investigation into the alleged fraud and shortchanging of the people of FCT, where all parties will be given an opportunity to present their own case.
“While we commend the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Mr. Project, for increasing the compensation budget from N655 million to N1.3 billion, we trust the minister to do the right thing by the people by investigating what has so far been disbursed.”
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