A civil society organisation and the Original Inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory (OIDA) have called for the review of the 1999 constitution, to grant FCT a statehood status.
They made the call at a news conference in Abuja, on Monday, at the Agenda Setting on the participation of FCT Original Inhabitants in the 1999 constitution review process.
Dr Ibrahim Zikirullahi, Executive Director of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), said that the call was necessary to address what he described as constitutional gaps
Zikirullahi said that the organisation deemed it necessary to reflect and brainstorm on the constitutional gaps, which had undermined the political, civil, economic, and cultural rights of the original inhabitants of FCT.
He said that given the cries across the country for a fresh people-driven constitutional template to reset Nigeria and deliver good governance, there have been worries that the current constitution review will not be far-reaching enough.
“The review of the 1999 constitution still presents veritable opportunities to canvass the core issues, aimed at addressing the marginalization and the entrenched violation of the rights of FCT original inhabitants.
“CHRICED in solidarity with OIDA affirms that the discrimination against OIDA stands condemned.
“These injustices are antithetical to spirit and letters of all known human rights instruments, to which Nigeria is a signatory, “he said.
He said that CHRICED was committed to the task of amplifying the voices of original Inhabitants of communities, to influence key governance processes.
He, therefore, called on the National Assembly to be mindful of the agitations across the country, pleading with lawmakers to be committed to addressing the root causes of disaffection across the land.
Also, Pastor Danladi Jeji, President of OIDA, said that true peace and unity could only be achieved when justice and fairness prevail.
Jeji said that the senate committee that would sit on the constitutional review, should amend the constitution to enable the native of FCT have their own state.
“In the light of the foregoing, it is right for the committee to amend relevant areas of the 1999 constitution, to reflect the true structure of the FCT, to accommodate indigenous natives to have their own state, in order to promote the social and economic need of the people.”
Similarly, Mr Giwa Bamaiyi, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of OIDA, said that there was a need for the 8,000 Sqm of FCT, to be made into a state status.
Bamaiyi condemned a situation where the government appoints ministers of FCT, who after their tenure returned to their own state to become governors, while the indigenous people have no such opportunities.
“Our agitation is not for the creation of the state because FCT is already seen as a state.
“According to section 297, sub-section 2 of the 1999 constitution, the 8,000sqm vested in the hands of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a lacuna.
“In this same constitution, section 44 as amended says, “no property shall be taken over by the Federal Government or individual or group of people”.
“This should be without adequate compensation and in agreement and consent of the owner, whereby a tribunal or court of jurisdiction accent to the payment of the compensation.
“This constitutional obligation has not been met by the Federal Government of Nigeria,” he said.
He, therefore, urged the NASS to amend the constitution to make it in such a way that the 8,000 Sqm with its 3.7 million people, be made to become a state.
He also pleaded that the FCT should be made to have its own governor and have three senatorial slots just like every other state.
The Senate Committee on Constitution review has planned to hold a public hearing on the review of the 1999 constitution, slated for May 26 and 27, respectively.
