Although, the Federal Capital Territory is a constitutionally carved out enclave for the President to administer like any other State in Nigeria. Technically speaking, the President of Nigeria is the Governor of FCT, but due to the enormity of the task of overseeing the country, he delegates the function of administering FCT to a minister he appoints.
Loading ...On Tuesday, October 13, 2015, when the Minority Whip of the Senate, distinguished Senator Philip Aduda, representing FCT, who doubles as the political leader of the Abuja, by virtue of the office he is holding, demanded the inclusion of FCT in ministerial nominees representation in President Muhammadu Buhari[PMB]-led cabinet as reflected by the spread of nominees from the thirty six [36] States of the federation but FCT, rational minds saw reason in his demand as call for justice. In terms of landmass, FCT is big enough to be called a State. It is the most important enclave in Nigeria by the reason of the galaxy of people residing within it. These probably justify the call for a ministerial nominee by distinguished Senator Philip Aduda.
There have been reactions either for or against ministerial representation for FCT. Those who argue that because Abuja is not a State and therefore, not qualified to produce a minister, appear to have reason for their line of argument, but when the issue is dragged longer, the principle of justice and equity exposes the hypocrisy/ live and let die attitude of these set of people. For instance, if the constitution of Nigeria says, States must have ministerial representation, did it say, a people not captured within a State boundary, should be denied of ministerial representation?
Since 1999, when democracy returned to Nigeria, after a long spell of military rule, successive Presidents have not thought it necessary to appoint somebody from FCT as a minister. The best they have done before now is to appoint somebody from Abuja as an ambassador. People from FCT have also benefited from board appointment. On the basis of no-ministerial appointment because FCT is not a state argument, how come it has both Senatorial and House of Representative representations at the national assembly? How do we explain honestly and rationally, that the none-state statue of FCT denies it of ministerial appointee in one breath, but actively canvassed that PMB must appoint ministers from the thirty six [36] of the federation for the purpose of spread? Even when the ministries to be occupied are not up to 36 in number, PMB appointed State Ministers just to meet the constitutional requirement of spread. So, in essence, what the opponents of Abuja having ministerial representation are saying is that when it comes to spread, FCT should be empty in the pie-chart diagram.
Many who know Senator Philip Aduda are of the firm belief that he is merely pointing out what appears to be an oversight on the part of the government in not considering somebody from FCT for ministerial appointment. They are equally of the view that Senator Aduda is not making case for a particular group of people for appointment as minister, what he is interested in is that a cosmopolitan and hellenized city like Abuja should have a ministerial representation. Other stakeholders in FCT project are of the same opinion with Senator Aduda. Come to think of it, if All Progressive Congress [APC] led- government decides to hear the legitimate demand of Senator Philip Aduda-led stakeholder and appoints a Minister of Federal Republic of Nigeria from FCT; will the government consider someone from PDP as a minister? The fact still remains that an APC member in FCT will be given consideration in the appointment.
While Senator Aduda is making a case for somebody in FCT as a minister, Nigerians who are opposed to this idea must know that their hard line poster may encourage the original inhabitants to start even violent agitation for ownership of FCT. If the truth must be told, each and every Nigerian living in Abuja is first and foremost from one of the States that makes up Nigeria, but still claims Abuja as his or her place because of the no-man’s land tag, but the original inhabitants of FCT have no other States as their own. None of the original inhabitants of FCT can go and contest for governorship position in any State in Nigeria; but any other Nigerian resident in FCT can relocate to his or her State, and contest for any position without being stopped. This is the tragedy of not allowing a people to enjoy what their counterparts are enjoying in the States that make-up Nigeria.
The task before PMB- administration here is to find a way of appointing someone from FCT as a minister; in doing so, PMB-led APC government would have written its name in gold as it will be the first administration to give justice to FCT in this regard.
