Abuja indigenes decry marginalisation

Indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory have again complained of lack of development in their localities, warning that they may be compelled to start carrying arms like Niger Delta militants if that would be the only option for government to dialogue with aggrieved regions.
The warning was contained in a statement issued by the spokesman of the group, Comrade Yunusa Yusuf in Abuja at the weekend.
They said despite peaceful and constitutional approaches they had adopted to address their obvious marginalization, the federal government seemed unperturbed.
The indigenes who issued the statement under a group known as Coalition of FCT Indigenous Group warned that implementation of demands by the Niger Delta Avengers would amount to an act of injustice, as numerous memoranda submitted to the National Assembly to address the marginalization of Abuja indigenes had not been addressed since 1999.
They said they had canvassed for the establishment of the FCT Original Inhabitant Development Commission similar to Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) aimed at addressing the socio economic and developmental plight of the indigenes.
The statement said despite sacrifices made by Abuja people in building one Nigeria, there was no consideration of a ministerial appointment for them by previous or the present government.