Police officers dispersed protesters at the entrance of the national assembly over the nomination of Solomon Adodo as the federal capital territory (FCT) representative on the board of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).
Wednesday’s protest, led by youths identified as indigenous to the FCT, began peacefully but turned rowdy, prompting security officials to shut the main gate of the national assembly complex.
Staff and visitors were redirected to use the entrance near the office of the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF).
Addressing the press before the protest escalated, Zakari Gambo Babale, leader of the group, criticised Adodo’s nomination as a violation of the rights of FCT natives.
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Babale said the appointment “undermines the principle of fair representation and inclusivity”.
He said Adodo, an indigene of Benue state, lacks the necessary insight into the challenges faced by residents of the FCT, particularly in infrastructure, housing, and social welfare.
“The representation of the FCT in the North Central Development Commission (NCDC) should be undertaken by someone who understands the plight of the original inhabitants, not an outsider,” he said.
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“Solomon Adodo said it was the senate president that gave him our own slot.
“Benue have chairman, Benue have executive director, Benue has member of the board, the only one for FCT, they gave it to Benue.
“Let it be on record that they cannot take everything away from us. It’s not possible.
“There are original inhabitants in the FCT. How then do you want to take everything and leave them with nothing?
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“The simple thing we want is for them to address us. Nobody should attach violence to our protest. The nine indigenous tribes in the FCT are here.
“It is not about party, it is not about religion, it is not about tribe, it is about the indigenous people of Abuja.”
On February 4, President Bola Tinubu signed a bill seeking to establish the NCDC into law.
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