By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Association of Wives of Traditional Rulers, AWTR, in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have called for the recognition and Inclusion of indigenes particularly women in governance.
The President of AWTR, HRH Hauwa Kulu Ibrahim made this call yesterday at the Sakaruyi of Karu Palace during a press conference to mark the International Day of Indigenous Peoples, IPD.
Ibrahim decried the two cardinal challenges which are inclusive governance and the double Jeopardy of the FCT indigenous woman.
She explained that despite the clamour for a second tier of administration and court judgement for inclusion of indigenes , the court judgements are not obeyed by government resulting in continuous exclusion of the original inhabitants from participating in decision making.
The remedy to this impasse begins with an act of recognition . ”
Recognition that it was the Nigerian Government who disposed the original inhabitants , they took our traditional land and traditional way of life, by virtue of Decree 6 of 1976 to make room for Nigeria Capital and now has excluded the original inhabitants from participating I. decision making. ”
She urged the indigenous people not to relent in making repeated demand for their rights , Identification and participation in governance.
The AWTR President said” As the world makes the IPD we would like to request that the government appoint a special envoy on FCT indigenous peoples concern to deal y our demands , advocate and provide accurate report to government” , adding that this would show that government is paying due respect to the original inhabitants whose sacrifice of ancestral heritage is enabling our national developmental objectives.
Speaking on the need to include indigenous women in the scheme of affairs, Ibrahim emphasized, ” indigenous women are thea backbone of the communities and play crucial role in passing down the traditional ancestral knowledge from one generation to the next.”
Furthermore she noted that it a double Jeopardy for indigenous women and girls who do not have a access to healthcare and education.
Up ut They live in extreme poverty compared to their no – indigenous counterparts , living behind high rise buildings in Abuja.
The Sakaruyi of Karu , HRH Samuel Kyauta lamented that FCT indigenes have suffered a lot despite of their support to the government.
He called on government to give indigene so their can contribute to governance.
We agitated for Mayorship but it was not given to us, we do not have state status, he lamented.
Chief Project Coordinator of AWTR, Amb. Hannatu Usman Nga Kupi bemoaned the sympathetic state of FCT indigenes and women .
We not not have hospitals and the general hospitals are in deplorable state.
She urged women in the 17 Kingdoms in the FCT to be bold to speak out for their rights which has long eluded them, adding that however this can be achieved peacefully and not by violence.
