- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has promised to issue Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to the indigenous people of FCT, living on their ancestral land.
Wike made the promise during a thank-you visit to the people of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) on Wednesday.
The Minister deacribed the move as a means of giving the people a sense of belonging in the land of their ancestors.
Acknowledging the pain of being thrown out of one’s ancestral land, Wike promised to do everything possible to make the issuance of the C of O a reality.
“We must change the pattern of politics in Abuja, we must. We must recognise that anywhere you go to, there are people there, we must recognise them,” he said.
The Minister explained that he was in AMAC to thank the people for electing candidates that were backing President Bola Tinubu during the February 21 FCT area council elections.
“I am here to thank you for the support you gave to all the candidates in the area council elections. They are all supporters of Tinubu,” he said.
Wike pointed out that relationships must not be one-sided, but symbiotic, “meaning you do for me, I do for you; you fall for me, I fall for you; you push me, I push you; you love me, I love you”.
He promised that he would always create time to interact with the people as directed by Tinubu to keep governance closer to the people.
Wike so disclosed that Tinubu had insisted that Ministers of FCT must always visit the communities to find out from the people what they want.
The Minister urged the people to continue to support only politicians who know how they feel, understand their needs and challenges as against unserious politicians who only dine with them because they need their support.
He also urged the Chairman of AMAC, Mr Christopher Maikalangu, who was re-elected for a second term to make his people happy.
“Anything your people want, our doors are open for you. Come to us.
“Please do not take their support for granted. Make sure we don’t disappoint our people and make sure all their efforts do not go in vain,” Wike said.
While thanking the minister for the development strides in FCT, traditional leaders in AMAC, led by the Sapeyi (Chief) of Garki, Usman Nga Kupi, appealed for further action on land allocations and protection of indigenous settlements.
In his remarks, Maikalangu thanked Wike for supporting his re-election and the people of AMAC for trusting him with their mandates, and promised not to disappoint them.