FORMER Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida officially relocated the capital of Nigeria, the seat of power to FCT on 12th December 1992 and 32 years after, there remains no democratic system of government in the Territory even after a return to democracy in 1999.
In an act of impunity, the Federal Government has refused to recognise the rights of the Original Inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory to vote as Second Tier level of Government. Hence, when other States are voting for their Governors and State Houses of Assembly Members, FCT Original Inhabitants and residents are exempted thereby prompting the outcry of injustice and marginalization.
The Federal Capital City (FCC) or City Centre and the larger FCT State Headquarters in Gwagwalada built by Late President Shehu Shagari 33 years remains a testament to the fact that if the Federal Government wants the FCT to function as a State in line with Section 299 of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended), it can be done.
The FCT Government and The FCC Administration can cohabit in the FCT and we can see that the current FCT Administration under Minister Nyesom Wike is subtly modifying governance structures in the Federal Capital Territory administratively to make the territory look like a State.
Unfortunately, the current administration has demonstrated little political will to make these actions open, transparent and in line with constitutional realities to allow FCT Indigenous people to fully enjoy their democratic rights.
For how long will FCT Original Inhabitants continue to be denied a full FCT State status by the Federal Government despite several Court of Appeal and Supreme Court judgments that FCT is the 37th state? This is an act of gross injustice and the height of man’s inhumanity to man.
Similarly, recent efforts by President Bola Tinubu’s administration to bring Financial Autonomy to our Local Governments have been very commendable but the status of the Local Councils remains controversial.
Why does the Constitution refer to FCT Local Councils as “Area Councils” while in States they are referred to as “Local Governments” yet our leaders often claim we have 774 Local Government Areas while in practise they deal with 768 Local Government Areas and 6 Area Councils in the FCT? As the local government’s financial autonomy is being implemented across the 37 states, it should be total and include that of the FCT. It is time for our lawmakers to also stand up and fight for the rights of the people as their representatives.
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The plight of FCT Original Inhabitants could affect governance if the issues are not resolved in favour of the natives. The fire next time may be uncontrollable. The Original Inhabitants Development Association (OIDA) in addition to all of these is again demanding not just a governorate for FCT, but also for the FCT to have 3 Senators, 6 House of Representatives Members and 11 more Local Governments. We should also have an FCT, Original Inhabitants Development Commission put in place.
For the FCT has 8,000sq kilometres with 858 Communities and over 7 million Residents, it is no longer time for delay as the National Assembly, State Governors and the Federal Government must do all within their powers to grant FCT Original Inhabitants their constitutional rights to vote and be voted for in all positions before the next General Election in 2027.
It is also not too late for the Federal Government to commission an unbiased study on the impact of the relocation of the FCT on Original Inhabitants since 1976.
