The Chairman of the National Peace Committee in the Federal Capital Territory has decries the constitutional status of FCT indigenes, arguing that they face discrimination despite being recognized as original inhabitants of the territory.
Ezekiel Dalhatu expressed frustration over the treatment of indigenous FCT communities during an interview with Channels TV from 17:41, challenging the notion that Abuja represents “no man’s land” despite having established communities with deep historical roots.
The peace committee chairman revealed that his organization has submitted numerous proposals to address these concerns, working to help the government resolve ongoing community issues.
Dalhatu highlighted the political limitations faced by FCT indigenes, noting that the current constitutional arrangement prevents them from aspiring to gubernatorial positions. “As we speak, with the current arrangement, I can never be governor because I don’t have a state,” he declared. “The Constitution did not have any provision for making me stateless, but by implementation and with what is happening today, I am stateless.”
The chairman emphasized the contradiction between constitutional provisions and practical implementation, arguing that FCT residents lack the same political representation as other Nigerians.
He described the unique governance structure that places FCT residents under direct federal oversight rather than state-level representation. “The President of Nigeria is said to be the governor of the people of the FCT, and then the entire National Assembly to be the House of Assembly for the people of FCT. When other Nigerians will go out in 2027 again to elect their governors, the FCT people will be at home on recess because we do not have the privilege,” he stated.
The peace committee chairman argued that this arrangement violates constitutional principles of equality and non-discrimination. To support his argument, he cited international examples of how other countries treat their indigenous populations, contrasting global best practices with Nigeria’s approach. “See what’s happening to the people of New York, US, Canada, everywhere all over the world, Singapore – go and see how they treat their own aborigines. The people that the sitting government met, how they treat them; they treat them as though they are special citizens,” he said.
Dalhatu detailed specific benefits that indigenous communities receive in other countries, highlighting the stark difference in treatment. “They put them on free education, free medication. In fact, there is a place in Canada where the ability to go and eat three times a day is there. That is how much the government values them. But in our case, in the FCT, we are treated as though we are foreigners in our own land,” Dalhatu stated.
