…As FCT natives deny mass protest plans

The natives of the Federal of Capital Territory (FCT), under the umbrella of the Original Inhabitants Development Association (OIDA), have denied planning to organize a mass protest over their exclusion from President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.

A statement by the media adviser of OIDA, Mr. Sumner Shagari Sambo, on Saturday, said it is the same faceless group which supported the former FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, and described him (Bala) as the ‘best’ minister of the FCT that are now canvassing for a native minister through protest.

The statement said, even as the association does not hold anything against such group that plans to embark on mass protest, its (OIDA) was not planning any protest and would not partake in a protest by any other group.

It therefore warned any group which is illegally using the name of the association or its officials for any protest to desist or such group would face legal action.

The statement noted that those who mortgaged the future of the original inhabitants of the territory by endorsing the land swap policy and Centenary City land grabbing programmes are free to be ‘born again’ democrats, but urged such groups to desist from name dropping of OIDA to gain favour from politicians or the general public.

“We want to make it categorically clear that OIDA is not organizing any protest over the exclusion of the FCT natives from the ministerial list.

“Once more, we state with pride that OIDA is not a political group, we are a development-oriented organization. Whether the Buhari administration answers us positively or not on our request for a native to be FCT minister, we shall keep our people informed through our usual organs,” the statement added.

It therefore commended the FCT senator, Philip Aduda, for raising the issue on the floor of the Senate.