As the Federal Capital Territory marks its 50th anniversary, Abuja’s indigenous elders have called on the federal government and the FCT Administration to address decades of marginalisation, human rights violations and injustice suffered by the original inhabitants of the territory.
The call was made on Saturday during a press briefing by the coordinator of the FCT Senior Citizens Forum, Elder Danjuma Tanko Dara, who spoke on behalf of indigenous communities across Abuja.
Dara recalled the historical significance of February 3, 1976, when the late Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed, announced the relocation of Nigeria’s capital from Lagos to Abuja, a move originally intended to promote national unity and balanced development.
While noting that Abuja has grown into a vibrant political and administrative centre, Dara said the development has come at a heavy cost to indigenous people, including displacement from ancestral lands, forced evictions, lack of fair compensation and near-total political exclusion.
He urged President Bola Tinubu and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to use the FCT@50 milestone to implement inclusive policies, ensure fair resettlement and compensation, protect cultural and land rights, uphold human rights and grant indigenous communities equitable representation and participation in governance.
