Federal Capital Territory (FCT) natives have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to include one of them in his ministerial appointments.
Alternatively, the natives begged that at least one of them should be made head of a board of a Federal Government agency.
OsunDailyNG understands that the citizens made the appeal on Monday at a press briefing convened to promote the culture of the indigenous people of the FCT.
Recall that President Tinubu forwarded the names of 28 ministerial nominees to the Nigerian Senate last week for screening.
The Senate commenced the screening of the nominees yesterday even as they await the second batch of ministerial nominees from the Nigerian leader.
However, in a statement issued on Monday, a spokesman for the FCT natives, Amos Danlami, lamented what he called the marginalisation of his people in the nation’s political architecture since the return to democracy in 1999.
“The longer the appointment of an indigene is left unattended to, the more we feel left out and deprived of joy that we are supposed to be recognised as a people and community in the FCT,” he said.
Faulting past administrations for deliberately snubbing the FCT indigenes, Danlami noted that the people had remained quiet out of respect for their elders, who kept advising them to be calm.
He added: “We have qualified indigenes who can make a difference. We have people in different fields who can make Nigeria better. All we need is an opportunity to serve.
“The FCT natives are known as a unique breed of people. Our culture shows how much we have come to terms with the universe; we always aspire to give life meaning no matter the situation we find ourselves in.”
Meanwhile, a former Director, Human Resource Management, FCT, Lazarus Zaka, has appealed to the youths to remain calm, saying that President Tinubu is a man who believes in the inclusiveness of people in the management of public affairs.
Gaza said, “Tinubu is a man of his word who has contributed significantly to the growth and development of democracy in Nigeria. His pedigree attests to the fact that he can pull the nation to greater heights.
“He is a consummate democrat and the leader of progressives who fought to bring the democratic rule that Nigerians are enjoying today. Tinubu will not leave the FCT natives behind. I trust him to carry us along in his administration. We are peace-loving, transparent and accommodating people.”
