By Adewunmi Oluwaseun
Abuja Natives of Kpaduma, a community bordering the Asokoro District of Abuja, have urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, to prioritise their cultural heritage as development progresses in the area.
Reacting to ongoing road construction that has displaced some residents, the Secretary and Madaki of Kpaduma, Baba Yerima, praised the minister’s consultations with community leaders but firmly insisted that displaced persons must be resettled within the community. “Our forefathers are buried here,” Yerima said. “We have already identified a suitable relocation area within our ancestral land. Anything short of this would be unacceptable.”
Supporting this stance, the youth leader of Kpaduma stated that while the community welcomes development, it must not come at the cost of their identity.
“Development is good, but it must not erase our heritage. We want inclusion, not displacement,” he said.
The community maintains that preserving their roots while embracing progress is key to ensuring sustainable and respectful urban growth.
