Abuja natives under the auspices of Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment Organization (AOIYEO) have applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for including an indigene of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Hon Zephaniah Bitrus Jisalo in his ministerial list.
The association’s president, Commandant Isaac David, in a statement yesterday, said for the first time, an indigene of Abuja was included in the list submitted to the National Assembly for screening.
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David said since 1976, this is the first time that Abuja original inhabitants will have this great opportunity to be part of the decision-making body of the government of Nigeria.
“President Tinubu proved that he is the best for this country because he happened to be the only and first president in the history of this country to have listened to our yearnings since 1976 when our people have been running from pillar to post against persecution, marginalization, and right infringement.
“He has given us a rare sense of belonging, he has made a bold step to renew our hope in the unity and progress of the country,” he said.
He said the people of FCT will forever remain grateful because President Tinubu has shown them that they are not second-class citizens on their land by promptly restoring their political rights, which has invariably given them hope that with him as president, the indigenes have begun a journey to be free from age-long bondage of marginalisation.
David therefore called for unflinching support by all the inhabitants at home and abroad for the success of the present administration.
He further appealed to senators of northern extraction to stand in support of the nominee to be able to scale through the hurdles of screening, knowing the fact that FCT has only one senator.
The Abuja youth leader also asked residents of the city not to entertain any fear about this development, adding that nomination of an indigene is going to be a blessing to all of them.
“I am saying this to disabuse the minds of few people who hold the impression that there would be a problem if an indigene is given power because we are peace-loving people, so there is no cause for alarm,” he said.