*Demands Stronger Constitutional Guarantees For FCT Natives’ Rights
*More Inclusive Political Appointments
*Economic Empowerment Initiatives
*Institutionalization Of Traditional Leadership Structures Within FCT Governance
By our reporter
Seeking to strengthen indigenous voices in key government decision-making processes in the nation’s capital, leading indigenous group, Abuja Original Inhabitants and Youths Empowerment Organisation (AOIYEO), organized a town hall meeting with key stakeholders to deliberate on strategies to accomplish this.
The event, which took place in Gwagwalada Area Council of FCT, brought together traditional leaders, youth representatives, women groups, civil society actors, and community influencers to discuss inclusive governance, political participation, and the socio-economic rights of Abuja’s original inhabitants.
The meeting was part of a broader initiative supported by the MacArthur Foundation through the Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education (CHRICED).
It forms a critical component of ongoing efforts to empower FCT’s indigenous communities and ensure their fair representation in the nation’s capital development agenda.
In a statement signed by President of AOIYEO, Commandant Isaac David, and made available to People&Politics, the group emphasized the urgency of giving voice to Abuja’s original inhabitants in governance structures that often sideline them.
“This town hall is a platform for our communities to speak, be heard, and be counted in the decisions that shape our lives.
“For far too long, the original inhabitants of the FCT have been left on the margins of governance, despite being the rightful stakeholders of the land,” the statement read,in part.
Commandant David called on both state and federal institutions to engage more proactively with indigenous groups in policymaking processes and to provide enabling environments for their youth and community leaders to participate in governance.
Participants at the meeting advocated for stronger constitutional guarantees for the rights of FCT natives, more inclusive political appointments, economic empowerment initiatives, and the institutionalization of traditional leadership structures within the governance framework of the capital territory.
Representatives of CHRICED and other development partners commended the initiative, noting that sustained dialogue between government and original inhabitants is crucial for peace, development, and justice in the FCT.
The event ended with a communiqué calling on government agencies, lawmakers, and development stakeholders to recognize and address the long-standing grievances of FCT’s indigenous population through concrete legislative and policy actions.
PHOTO CAPTION: Commandant David.
