The indigenous youth of the FCT, under the aegis of the Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment Organisation (AOIYEO), have commended the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike, for his call to dialogue with the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protesters.
The group, in a statement on Saturday, expressed that Wike’s call for dialogue, especially after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had not addressed the nation, further confirms their faith in him as an admirable leader and advocate for peace.
Recall that after the first day of protest, Wike had invited the protesters to engage in dialogue, assuring them that the government was prepared to listen and address some governance issues they might not have been aware of.
The protest, scheduled to last from August 1 to 10, aims to draw the government’s attention to the economic hardships faced by the people.
The statement read in part: “I’ve been saying that if we get it right in Abuja, we get Nigeria right. The Hon. Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, confirmed this when he advocated for dialogue instead of continuing the protest. If President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with all due responsibility, does not address the nation on the ongoing protest, he should consider leaving Aso Villa and returning to Lagos.”
The group praised Wike for making himself available to the grassroots and listening to their concerns. They noted that Abuja indigenes are peace-loving people, which is evident in their calm response to having their land taken away with insufficient compensation.
“Abuja natives are peace-loving and hospitable people who do not wish to harm their neighbors or even strangers but instead accommodate them comfortably. This is exactly what the FCT Original Inhabitants have done for Nigeria and its people, living in peace since 1976 despite the injustice of having their ancestral lands taken without adequate compensation, and their livelihoods impacted by the compulsory acquisition of their farmlands and villages.
“The natives of Abuja are in the best position to protest against the federal government for denying them a second-tier system of government and thus all associated constitutional rights. Despite enduring such oppression and exploitation, they continue to embrace peace with everyone and the government of Nigeria. Why are we now experiencing this unrelated peace that we never inherited from our predecessors in our land of birth?” they queried.
The group appealed to the FCT Minister to ensure the implementation of the legal victory delivered by the court in favor of the Original Inhabitants.
