NCDC -Tension flared at the National Assembly as indigenous youth and leaders of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) staged a powerful protest against the appointment of Mr. Solomon Adodo, a Benue State indigene, as FCT’s representative on the board of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC). The protesters declared that only a true FCT indigene can speak for the people.
The protesters, made up of indigenous youth groups and community leaders, accused the federal government of gross marginalization, stating that Adodo is not an indigene of the FCT and cannot speak for the people, particularly at the NCDC board.
The NCDC was created to address development challenges in Nigeria’s North Central zone, which includes seven states — Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, and the FCT. According to the protesters, the Act that established the commission clearly states that each constituent state should have an indigene as its representative on the board.
“All the other states got their sons and daughters. Why should ours come from Benue? This is our land. We have suffered enough,” one protester said.
The group expressed deep frustration over what they described as years of being sidelined, despite hosting the seat of government and sacrificing large portions of their ancestral land for national development.
“We are not street people. Just look at our faces. We love peace. But don’t push us. This is our final protest. Give us our rightful slot in NCDC, and we’ll go home,” another protester declared.
The protesters noted that Benue State already has multiple appointments on the NCDC board, while the only supposed FCT “representative” is another Benue indigene.
They demanded that the federal government immediately reverse the appointment and replace Mr. Adodo with a true FCT indigene.
While angry over the NCDC issue, the group also commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing an FCT indigene, Hon. Zephaniah Jisalo, into the Federal Executive Council — a first since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.
“We know the President stands for fairness. We believe he may not even be aware of this injustice. That’s why we’re raising our voices — not to fight, but to be heard.”
As they marched outside the National Assembly complex, the youth leaders urged lawmakers to take urgent steps and ensure the FCT is fairly and legally represented in the NCDC.
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