By Chinwendu Agoha (Governance Reporter)
An Igbo Coalition, Ikenga Ndi Igbo Progressive Union Worldwide, has condemned what it described as the exclusion of other Nigerians, particularly the Igbos of the South East, from holding elective offices in the Abuja area, Nigeria's Federal Capital Territory.
The group's position was contained in a joint statement on Wednesday, September 1, 2021, by its President, Hon. (Chief) Alfred Ozoemena and the Secretary-General, High Chief Victor Uche Okei. The Unio noted its observation that the political positions in the FCT have been tilted in a manner that excludes other Nigerian citizens of the FCT, an arrangement, they said, was grossly inconsistent with the law of the land.
The group argued that the situation must be reversed as Nigerians of other ethnic groups resident in the FCT are among the highest proportion of tax-paying citizens in the Federal Capital in terms of revenue generation in the Abuja Area Councils.
The Igbo Union however said “It is very disheartening and worrisome to further note that the major political parties going by electoral victories did not consider other Nigerians in FCT fit and capable of being the chairmanship candidate for 2022 Area Council elections.
“This development is even more disgusting when the 62 councillorship candidates for all the political parties contesting for the election did not attempt to reflect the diverse composition of FCT citizens.
“When a group of people hijacks what belongs to all, while others work for nothing is the kind of injustice that will not allow progress to exist” the group stated.
“We may not wish to bother you with verifiable records of humongous contributions of other Nigerians to the political and social development of the FCT. The electoral value of these people, particularly the Igbo extraction is a major determinant of electoral victory in the FCT.
“It is also on record that through mischief and cunning, other Nigerians have been excluded from the leadership structure of the frontline political parties in order to conveniently ease us out of political relevance in the FCT. It is also on record that other Nigerians in FCT have over the years been excluded from both Federal, FCT, and Area council, board, and committee appointments accruable to FCT. This is discriminatory and unacceptable”.
The Igbo Union, therefore, demands the immediate inclusion of non-indigene Nigerians resident in the FCT in the top hierarchy of elective offices and governance in the Federal Capital, stating that “We are builders. This is verifiable and has also been acknowledged over the years".
The group also said "We intend to continue in the political development partnership with the initial inhabitants of FCT without compromising our inalienable rights to political leadership in FCT.
The Igbo Union, therefore, stated that “We are determined and have resolved to ensure that other Nigerians, particularly of Igbo extractions, must be on the ballots for council chairmanship and many councillorship slots for the forthcoming February 2022 elections.
"You may take this as notice of our preparedness to mobilize other Nigerians to support our candidates during elections". NNL.
