By Patrick Idowu
Indigenous residents of the Federal Capital Territory, under the Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment Organisation, AOIYEO, have accused the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, of neglecting traditional rulers and key indigenous stakeholders.
The President of AOIYEO, Commandant Isaac David, raised the concerns on Monday during a press briefing, questioning why the minister had visited traditional rulers across local government areas in Rivers State but had yet to pay a courtesy visit to any traditional ruler in the FCT since assuming office.
David said Wike had neither visited royal palaces nor held meaningful consultations with community elders, youth leaders or women groups across the six area councils of the FCT.
According to him, traditional rulers and community leaders remain central to grassroots governance and social cohesion, adding that their exclusion has fuelled resentment among original inhabitants who feel marginalised in their ancestral land.
He also criticised Wike’s decision to spend the recent festive period visiting other states instead of engaging FCT traditional leadership, describing the action as neglectful.
David further expressed concern over what he termed a pattern of political expediency, alleging that the minister’s interest in traditional rulers outside the FCT appeared politically motivated, especially with elections approaching.
The group called for greater engagement with FCT traditional institutions in policy and development decisions.
