TheNewsGuru

Tag: State

  • Defections: Nigeria will never be a one-party state — Aniagwu

    Defections: Nigeria will never be a one-party state — Aniagwu

    Delta State Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, has dismissed concerns that Nigeria is slipping into a one-party state following the mass defection of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Speaking during an interview on TVC News, Aniagwu explained that the defection of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and members of the Delta PDP to the APC was not from a position of weakness, but from a position of strength.

    He likened remaining in the PDP to a brilliant student stuck in a department without accreditation from relevant regulatory bodies.

    “Some individuals have expressed fears that Nigeria may be drifting towards a one-party system. That’s not going to happen,” Aniagwu said.

    “For several reasons, Nigeria will not become a one-party state. Even as we find ourselves in the APC today, there are people who, over time, may align with other interests or political beliefs. Politics evolves; so do people.”

    Drawing an analogy from the banking consolidation under the Obasanjo administration, he said, “In 2005, during the banking consolidation led by then CBN Governor Charles Soludo, banks were required to have a minimum of N25 billion in capital.

    “Initially, there were 25 banks that met the threshold, the number shrank to 23. But today, the number has grown again. In politics, as in banking, growth leads to realignment, and more like-minded individuals will find each other.”
    He stressed that political ideology is not formed overnight. “In Delta State, many of the people we are meeting in the APC today were once members of the PDP. So this is not just a realignment of forces it’s a family reunion.”

    Aniagwu emphasized that political parties exist for the purpose of contesting elections, forming government, and delivering governance to the people.

    “Nobody is contesting the fact that Governor Sheriff Oborevwori is performing well in Delta, nor is anyone disputing that the PDP previously held sway in the state. So, we didn’t move from weakness, we moved from a position of strength,” he said.

    Explaining the rationale for the shift, he said: “We discovered that the vehicle we were in, that is the PDP had developed serious challenges. Initially, we thought it was just a flat tyre and tried to fix it with the help of political ‘vulcanizers.’ But as time went on, we realized it was a deeper issue as the brain box was compromised. And unfortunately, those who were supposed to fix it appeared to be introducing more problems instead.”

    Referencing the 2019 Zamfara experience where the APC lost all its electoral victories due to internal party irregularities, Aniagwu said: “We took this decision in the best interest of our people. We didn’t want a situation where we win elections only to be disqualified due to administrative lapses from the party’s national leadership. That’s what happened in Zamfara, and we chose to avoid that risk.”

    He further noted that as Nigeria’s number one oil-producing state, Delta contributes significantly to the national economy and must ensure that it gets its fair share of federal benefits.

    “President Tinubu, even while we were in the PDP, showed Delta State genuine attention and support. That, combined with the dysfunction at the PDP national headquarters, led us to conduct a diagnosis and the prescription was clear: we had to leave.”

    Concluding, Aniagwu clarified the nature of the political shift in Delta:“What happened in Delta wasn’t a mere defection. Defections are when individuals move. What happened here was a movement of an entire structure. So don’t call it defection. It was a strategic movement for the collective good.”

  • Obasanjo slams Tinubu, says “your Baba-Go-Slow ‘Emilokan’ reign has made Nig a failed state

    Obasanjo slams Tinubu, says “your Baba-Go-Slow ‘Emilokan’ reign has made Nig a failed state

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lamented that Nigeria’s current economic situation is very bad and that the situation is made worse by the unwillingness of the leaders to take responsibility.

    Obasanjo made this declaration in his keynote address at the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum, held on Saturday at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

    In his speech, titled: “Leadership Failure and State Capture in Nigeria,” he expressed concern over the country’s dire situation, noting, “as the world can see and understand, Nigeria’s situation is bad.”

    Using Singapore as an example of a country with effective leadership, Obasanjo highlighted how the government there has remained responsive to the evolving needs of its citizens, making significant investments in sectors like healthcare, education, and social welfare.

    He said, “Nigeria’s situation, as we can see and understand, is bad. The more the immorality and corruption of a nation, the more the nation sinks into chaos, insecurity, conflict, discord, division, disunity, depression, youth restiveness, confusion, violence, and underdevelopment.

    “That’s the situation mostly in Nigeria in the reign of Baba-go-slow and Emilokan. The failing state status of Nigeria is confirmed and glaringly indicated and manifested for every honest person to see through the consequences of the level of our pervasive corruption, mediocrity, immorality, misconduct, mismanagement, perversion, injustice, incompetence and all other forms of iniquity. But yes, there is hope.”

    The former President, while quoting from a short, classic treatise published in 1983 called, “The Trouble with Nigeria” by Chinua Achebe, said, “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership.

    The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example which are the hallmarks of true leadership.”

    According to him, two prominent US intellectuals, Robert Rotberg and John Campbell, had once raised the alarm about the failing status of Nigeria and its inevitable effects on the African continent given the country’s size, economic viability, and population, among others.

    He described state capture “as one of the most pervasive forms of corruption, a situation where powerful individuals, institutions, companies, or groups within or outside a country use corruption to shape a nation’s policies, legal environment, and economy, to benefit their own private interests.

    “State capture is not always overt and obvious. It can also arise from the more subtle close alignment of interests between specific business and political elites through family ties, friendships, and the intertwined ownership of economic assets.

    “What is happening in Nigeria – right before our eyes – is state capture: The purchase of National assets by political elites – and their family members – at bargain prices, the allocation of national resources – minerals, land, and even human resources – to local, regional, and international actors. It must be prohibited and prevented through local and international laws.

    “Public institutions such as the legislature, the executive, the judiciary, and regulatory agencies both at the federal and local levels are subject to capture.

    “As such, state capture can broadly be understood as the disproportionate and unregulated influence of interest groups or decision-making processes where special interest groups manage to bend state laws, policies, and regulations.

    “They do so through practices such as illicit contributions paid by private interests to political parties, and for election campaigns, vote-buying, buying of presidential decrees or court decisions, as well as through illegitimate lobbying and revolving door appointments.

    “The main risk of state capture is that decisions no longer take into consideration the public interest but instead favour a specific special interest group or individual.

    “Laws, policies, and regulations are designed to benefit a specific interest group, oftentimes to the detriment of smaller firms and groups and society in general.

    “State capture can seriously affect economic development, regulatory quality, the provision of public services, quality of education and health services, infrastructure decisions, and even the environment and public health.”

  • BREAKING: Bill to create additional state passes second reading

    BREAKING: Bill to create additional state passes second reading

    A bill seeking the creation of Ogoja State has scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.

    The bill, sponsored by Godwin Offiono and three other on during plenary on Thursday.

    The constitution alteration bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to create an additional state in the South-south region.

    If the bill is passed into law, it would bring the number of states in the South-south region to seven.
    The bill scaled second reading without any opposition from members and was referred to the House Committee on Constitution Review.

  • Oborevwori, Uduaghan, Okowa, attend Ukodhiko’s thanksgiving +Photos

    Oborevwori, Uduaghan, Okowa, attend Ukodhiko’s thanksgiving +Photos

    Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, his wife, Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, former Governors of the state, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan and Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Sunday, attended the victory thanksgiving and dedication service of the Member representing Isoko Federal Constituency, Hon. Jonathan Ukodhiko.

    The thanksgiving service which held at Ukodhiko’s country home at Erawha-Owhe, Isoko North Local Government Area of the state also, had in attendance Senator Representing Delta South Senatorial District, Senator Joel Onowakpor-Thomas; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor; Hon. Nicholas Mutu; State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Kingsley Esiso; Senator Stella Omu; Hon. Leo Ogor; Chief Solomon Ogba and Hon. Johnson Erijo among others.

    Members of the State House of Assembly; Commissioners and top government functionaries; traditional rulers including the 1st Vice Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Luke-Kalanama VIII; the Pere of Akugbene-Mein Kingdom, 2nd Vice Chairman and Obi of Ubulu-Unor, HRM, Henry Kikachukwu I; Ovie of Ozoro Kingdom, HRM Anthony Ogbogbo, Ibuka I; Okpuzo of Owhe Kingdom, HRM Romanus Inana; Ovie of Idjerhe Kingdom, HRM Dr. Monday Whiskey, Udurhie I, were among dignitaries that attended the ceremony.

    Speaking at the thanksgiving service, Governor Oborevwori congratulated Hon. Ukodhiko on his victory at the polls and subsequent affirmation of his election by the tribunal and Appeal Court.

    He said: “I congratulate Hon. Ukodhiko for the various victories God granted him at the polls and at the courts. I am not surprised he won because he is a very humble man.

    “Thank you for your humility, getting to this position is by God grace because God said it is your time and your meekness has kept you.

    “Giving thanks provokes God’s divine intervention in every aspects of life because it moves God to do more. So, I thank you for inviting all of us to thank God with you.

    “I urge you to use your position to unite the Isoko people because there is so much division in Isoko nation. Don’t be a divider, be a unifier.

    “I urge you to keep up with your humility, because it will take you far in life. God gave you this position to organize your people; so, try use the position for that purpose”.

    He thanked Isoko people for supporting his emergence as Governor, assuring that he would continue to govern with humility and equity.

    “We will try to do the best in the interest of Delta State. I thank our people for the support and may God continue to bless our dear state.

    On his part, former Governor of the State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan congratulated Ukodhiko on his victory, describing him as man with the fear of God.


    In his sermon, titled, “The things that wise men do,” Pastor in charge of Region 34 of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Olufemi Olumide said all men should express gratitude to God in thanksgiving for all the things He has done in their lives.

    Pastor Olumide said processes change and procedures are reviewed but each time man turns to God He answers them.

  • Declare state of emergency in Imo state – group urges FG

    Declare state of emergency in Imo state – group urges FG

    Coalition for True Governance (CTG) has condemned the killing of the traditional ruler of Orsu Obodo in the Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, Eze Victor Ijioma, and the traditional prime minister of Mgbele in the same LGA.

    The group in a statement on Friday said the assassination of the monarchs is an appalling act of violence.

    CTG’s convener, Chief Charles Odenigbo charged the federal government to declare a state of emergency in Imo, adding that Governor Hope Uzodinma has failed to secure the residents.

    Odenigbo said the declaration was necessary to ensure the swift deployment of security forces and the implementation of measures to prevent further loss of lives and property.

    “The state of emergency will provide the government with the necessary authority and resources to combat the escalating violence and restore law and order,” he noted.

    Speaking further, he said: “We urge the government to launch a thorough investigation into the killing of the traditional ruler in Oguta, with the aim of identifying and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

    “It is crucial that all involved, regardless of position or influence, are held accountable for their actions. The government must demonstrate its commitment to upholding the rule of law and protecting citizens.”

    CTG further implored the Nigerian government to prioritise community engagement, dialogue, and reconciliation initiatives in Imo State.

    The statement pleaded to the international community, particularly regional organisations and human rights bodies, to closely monitor the situation in Imo State.

     

  • 7 states withdraw case to review Presidential, NASS results

    7 states withdraw case to review Presidential, NASS results

    Seven state governments controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have withdrawn the suit they filled against the federal government over the conduct and subsequent collation and announcement of the Feb. 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The Notice of Discontinuance signed by their lawyer, Mr. Mike Ozekhome SAN Friday, said “Take notice that the plaintiffs doth hereby wholly discontinue this suit against the defendant herein”.

    The states had dragged the Federal Government before the Supreme Court over the conduct and subsequent collation and announcement of the Feb. 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The plaintiffs in the originating summons marked: SC/CV/354/2023, are specifically asking for an order of the apex court “directing a wholistic review of all results so far announced by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    They alleged that the collation and announcement ofthe results were carried out other than through the manner prescribed by the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, 2022; and the INEC Manual for Election Officials.

    The suit was filed by the Attorneys General of Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Sokoto State.

    The Attorney General of the Federation is the sole respondent and was brought pursuant to SECTIONS 6 (6) (a), 14 (2) (b), 153 (1) (F) AND 232 (1) OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (AS AMENDED);
    2. SECTIONS 25 (1), (2) and 3; SECTIONS 60 AND 66 OF THE ELECTORAL ACT, 2022.

    They predicated their case on the grounds that the collation of the national election results from the 36 States of the Federation, and that of the Federal Capital Territory, for the said 2023 elections have not been carried out in compliance with the mandatory provisions of relevant sections of the Electoral Act, 2022.

    According to the suit, the agents and officials of the federal government and INEC, failed to transmit the collated result as prescribed by the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2022.

    They said the commission failed to adhere to the transmission of the results by the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in flagrant breach of the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022; the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, 2022; and the INEC Manual for Election Officials, 2023.

    It was their submission that the “non-compliance” with the due process of law has led to a widespread agitation, violent protests, displeasure, and disapproval from a wide spectrum of the Nigerian populace, including International Observers, Political parties, well-meaning Nigerians and former Head of States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

    They further claimed that the widespread violent protests, demonstrations and rallies have endangered the peace, order, good governance, security and safety of the Plaintiffs.

    Meanwhile, plaintiffs argued that the federal government through INEC, “is empowered by law to correct the elections due to technical glitches and errors arising from the conduct of the elections.

    “Whilst queries were being raised as to the failure or deliberate refusal of INEC to transmit the results electronically, the INEC suddenly pulled down its portal harbouring the Regulations and Guidelines, thus leaving the Plaintiffs in the dark.

    “Most Nigerians, including the Governments and peoples of Adamawa, Akwa Ibom State, Bayelsa State, Delta State, Edo, and Sokoto state, are entitled to a proper and electoral lawful process and procedure that guarantees a free, fair, transparent and credible election.

    There is no justifiable basis for the ongoing collation of results without compliance with the mandatory provisions of the law that mandatorily require the use of BVAs, electronic transmission to the IRev Portal.

    They argued that unless the court intervenes, the governments and people of Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Sokoto state, who have suffered and will continue to suffer irreparable hardship and damage of unquantifiable proportions.

    They prayed a declaration that the entire results of the presidential election conducted on Feb. 25, announced by the Chairman of the INEC, at the National Collation Centre, Abuja, was in flagrant provisions of Sections 25; 47(2); 60 (1), (2), (4) & (5); 62; 64(4)(a) & (b); 70; and 148 of the Electoral Act, 2022.

    Meanwhile the plaintiffs brought an application praying the apex court for an order directing a departure from the rules of the apex court in the interest of justice by directing for accelerated hearing of the substantive suit.

    Besides, plaintiffs also filed another application seeking for an order for abridging time for parties to file and serve responses for and against the suit.

  • JUST IN: APC announces date for state congresses

    JUST IN: APC announces date for state congresses

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has fixed Saturday, October 2 to conduct its state congresses across the country.

    National Secretary of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator James Akpanudoedehe, announced this in a statement on Monday.

    He added that the party’s leadership has scheduled Wednesday to commence the sale of forms for the exercise.

    Details later…

  • Anambra People Cannot Accept De-Marketing of their State – Don Adinuba

    Anambra People Cannot Accept De-Marketing of their State – Don Adinuba

    1. As the campaign for the November 6 gubernatorial election in Anambra State has started in earnest, it is understandable that some candidates and their foot soldiers have engaged in relentless rounds of misinformation and disinformation. There is nothing wrong with political parties, their candidates and supporters criticizing one another. Much as it is desirable for the political gladiators to base their utterances on facts, we know this is hardly likely to be the case.

    2. What is clearly unacceptable is when political parties, their candidates and agents in the forthcoming election set out to manufacture facts about their state with a view to denigrating it in the eyes of rational members of the public. This kind of denigration has grave implications for the development of our dear state. For example, one major driver of the huge investment inflow into the last state in the last seven years amounting to between four and five billion dollars ($4-5b) is the impressive reputation which the State has enjoyed throughout the country in recent years. To attempt to destroy this enviable reputation is to attempt to destroy investments in the state. Only enemies of the State can think of such a thing.

    3. Therefore, the penchant of some politicians to resort to the social media to make preposterous allegations of humongous financial abuses against the State Government as part of the disinformation strategy designed to win the November 6 governorship election stands condemnable. The amounts they publish, without any form of evidence, as what the State Government has received in recent years as statutory funds are wild figures. They beggar belief.

    4. There is compelling evidence that financial resources of the people of Anambra State are are well managed. For example, Anambra State and petroleum-rich Rivers State are the two states in the country with the best fiscal responsibility index, according to BudgIT, a highly respected nongovernment organization (NGO) funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The latest unemployment figures by the National Bureau of Statistics show that Anambra State, with 13.1 per cent unemployment rate, has the lowest unemployment rate in the country whereas the average national unemployment rate is 27.1 per cent. To many economists around the world, the employment rate in any economy is the most important indicator of the economic performance of the place. The implication of the NBS publication of the latest unemployment rates is that the bureau has stated in unmistaken terms that the Anambra State economy has been managed better than that of any other state in Nigeria, including the Federal Capital Territory.

    5. Only an exceptionally prudent state like Anambra can build a world-class international airport in less than two years with no bank loan anywhere in the world and without owing the contactors. Indeed, the people of Anambra State are eminently proud of the fact that the state Government is about to deliver the largest conference and convention centre in Africa—with 13,000 seating capacity—without any loan. Remarkable also is that the State Government has not borrowed a kobo from any bank to finance the modern stadium it is about to complete in Awka.

    6. It is quite regrettable that indigenes of our state are carrying out extreme propaganda against the very state that they want to govern by all means. They have even made videos of failed Federal Government roads in Anambra State and blame the very deplorable state of roads like the Amawbia-Ekwulobia-Uga- Road which leads to Akokwa in Imo State on the Anambra State Government. The irony is that the very political party whose candidate and supporters are responsible for the disinformation is the All Progressives Congress (APC). Its candidate hails from Uga in Aguata Local Government Area; he spent eight years in the Senate without addressing the terrible state of the federal road which passes through his hometown.

    7. To worsen matters, the same party has been sponsoring news on the social media alleging that the six All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) members of the State House of Assembly who last week succumbed to the asphyxiating Federal Might, against the wishes of the Anambra people who elected them, are in discussion with some other legislators to impeach the State governor.

    8. What the party is stating in other words is that it wants to create a deep crisis in Anambra State. It would seem that any time a particular individual wants to contest the governorship of the state it deliberately foments trouble. The situation brings to mind the illegal impeachment of the first APGA governor in the state, Mr Peter Obi, which the same forces masterminded. Good a thing that the Supreme Court was to reverse the perfidious act and return the APGA governor to office without delay.

    9. Rather than unveil their development programmes for the Anambra people, some parties and candidates as well as their agents and supporters are determined to de-market their state, and cause tremendous confusion and crisis all over the place. This is not how to achieve gubernatorial ambitions. In any case, Anambra people are too discerning and sophisticated for certain political manipulations and machinations.

     

    God bless Anambra State, the Light of the Nation.

    Signed

     

    C. Don Adinuba

    Commissioner for Information & Public Enlightenment.

  • FG, States, LGs share N605.95bn in May

    FG, States, LGs share N605.95bn in May

    The Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) on Wednesday said it shared a total of N605.958 billion as May 2021 revenue to the Federal, States and Local Governments as well as other relevant agencies.

    Mr Charles Nwodo, Director, Information, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, in a statement in Abuja, said the amount was shared during a virtual conference of the committee.

    The committee, in a communique, noted that the N605.958 billion shared included cost of collection to the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

    The committee also stated that the Federal Government received N242.120 billion, the states got N194.195 billion while the LGs received N143.742 billion.

    It added that the oil producing states received N26.901 billion as derivation (13 per cent of mineral revenue).

    According to the committee, the Gross Revenue available from the Value Added Tax (VAT) for May 2021 was N181.078 billion as against N176.710 billion distributed in the preceding month of April 2021.

    This resulted in an increase of N4.368 billion.

    It said: “The distribution is as follows; Federal Government got N25.260 billion, the States received N84.202 billion, and Local Government Councils got N58.941 billion.

    “The distributed Statutory Revenue of N428.198 billion received for the month was lower than the N497.385 billion received for the previous month by N69.197 billion, from which the Federal Government received N175.541 billion, States got N89.037 billion, LGs got N69.644 billion, and Derivation (13 per cent Mineral Revenue) got N24.666 billion.”

    The committee also revealed that Companies Income Tax (CIT), and Oil and Gas Royalties, Import and Excise Duty recorded decreases, while only VAT increased, although, marginally.

    It said the total revenue distributable for the current month was inclusive of Gross Statutory Revenue of N357.888 billion, VAT of N168.403 billion, Solid Mineral Revenue of N7.940 billion, Exchange Gain of N1.727 billion and an augmentation from Non-Oil of N50 billion and N20 billion.

    The committee said this brought the total distributable revenue to N605.958 billion.

  • Constitution review: FCT natives demand Abuja be made a State

    Constitution review: FCT natives demand Abuja be made a State

    The Original Inhabitants Development Association (OIDA) has called for the amendment of section 299 of the 1999 constitution to make Abuja, the federal capital territory (FCT) a State.

    Pst. Danladi Jeji, President of OIDA said this in Abuja, on Saturday, at a stakeholder debriefing meeting of the FCT original inhabitants, on key outcomes of the public hearing by Senate and House of Representatives on the review of the 1999 constitution.

    Jeji said that the ancestral land of the people of the territory was not sacrificed by their forefathers, but was rather collected from them by the government.

    He called on the natives of the territory to reclaim their land, through peaceful dialogue, while hoping that Abuja would be made a state.

    “Every state is observing democracy, without FCT observing the day. This is because we are not recognised as a state, though they said this place is a virgin land, as claimed by the government.

    “FCT is larger than eight states and these states have their governors and members representing them at the National Assembly.

    “All we want is that Abuja should be made a state so that we can also have representation at the Federal Executive Council (FEC)”, he said.

    Alhaji Yunusa Karmo, Vice President of the association, also said there was need for the territory to be conferred with a state status, thereby having 37 states in the country.

    Karmo decried a situation where the government appointed ministers for the FCT who, after their tenure, returned to their own states to become governors, while the indigenous people had no such opportunities.

    He said that what was obtainable in other states should also be made to happen in the territory, saying that their unborn children would seek to correct the anomalies, if government failed to respond to the demands of the people.

    Similarly, Dr Ibrahim Zikirullahi, Executive Director, Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), called on the Nigerian state not to undermine or frustrate the demands of the people.

    Zikirullahi said the anomalies of the statelessness of the original inhabitants of the FCT ought to be addressed immediately.

    “CHRICED unequivocally makes the point that amongst all the agitations for state creation, all through the period of the constitution review, the case of FCT remains the most compelling and justifiable.

    “To redress the injustice wherein millions of FCT original inhabitants have been rendered stateless on their own ancestral homelands, the National Assembly urgently needs to tweak section 299 of the 1999 constitution as amended.

    “The section which states that the ‘provision of this constitution shall apply to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as if it were one of the states of the federation’ needs to be amended urgently.

    “CHRICED calls for the removal of the ’if’ which has rendered the state status for the original inhabitants of the FCT inchoate for so many years,” he said.

    The executive director further appealed to the FCT minister to take urgent steps to address the economic impact, which had deepened poverty, inequality and the general state of despondency in the FCT communities.

    He solicited the support of all stakeholders to ensure that the original inhabitants of the FCT reclaimed their rights.