A group, Network of Journalists on Indigenous Issues (NEJII) has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to enact a law that will promote the economic and cultural rights of Abuja Original Inhabitants (AOI).
At a press briefing by NEJII coordinator, Adewale Adeoye, Tuesday, he said the Abuja first nation, which is made up of eight ethnic nationalities, has been faced with historical injustices that can only be addressed through institutional reforms.
The group said the AOIs have endured historic injustice since 1976 when the federal capital was moved from Lagos to Abuja through Decree No. 6 of February 6 and launched by late General Murtala Mohammed. 50 years after, the AOIs are agitating and crying.
The group stated that the law among others will make provision for a certain percentage of the FCT allocation to be reserved for the education and health of Abuja Original Inhabitants.
Adeoye said, “The Bill will also legalise priority of corporate and public institutions’ jobs for AOIs and the preservation of AOIs languages, so that they could be taught in primary and secondary schools in the FCT plus the preservation of ancestral worship places and groves of AOIs.”
Adeoye added that it is deeply concerned about the AOIs for so many reasons.
“Nigeria is currently the epicenter of various violent agitations. These protests that are now violent mostly began as harmless, fair and peaceful agitations.
“They want dialogue with the Federal Government on their future. The agitation has been peaceful. Timely resolution is key to the future of conflict resolution and peace building in the Federal Capital Territory.”Adeoye said.
The group noted that the call is necessary because United Nations (UN) International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples which will be held on August 8 every year, sadly the nation’s capital city made up of eight ethnic nationalities has faced historical injustice that can only be addressed through enactment of a law.
It noted that Nigeria is home to many indigenous people and Abuja Original Inhabitants, (AOIs) constituted by Ganagana, Koro, Ebira, Gade, Gbgwari and Nupe.
Other demands made by NEJII are; the setting up of a Judicial Enquiry into the cases of historic injustice including but not limited to land grab and seizure of ancestral land at gun point especially by the past military and civilian administrators of Abuja.