Kingibe pledges better deal for FCT indigenes

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator-elect, under the Labour Party (LP), Hajiya Ireti Kingibe, has assured that she would push for law to ensure that indigenes of FCT participate effectively in the political process of the country. 

She noted that the scourge of agitations for political inclusion by original inhabitants of Abuja would be addressed when sworn-in as a member of the 10th National Assembly.

Kingibe, who made the explanation at a briefing in Abuja, decried the limitations posed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to the extent indigenes of the FCT can participate in the country’s political leadership  

She, however, urged every citizen of country to support her strategy to change the negative trajectory by pressing for the establishment of a special democratic institution that would enable the original inhabitants of the FCT to determine their fate in an executive sort of way. 

She said, “The status of FCT is constitutional. So, I personally cannot do anything about it unless the Constitution is amended. The status of the FCT is already determined by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“However, I believe with the right strategy, we can do something to address the agitation for political inclusion by the FCT indigenes. If you understand the psychology of women, we don’t jump straight to the biggest thing, we start taking them little by little till we get it all.

“I’m going to start by pushing for a mayoralty for the FCT. When we have more control of ourselves by determining what happens in the FCT in an executive sort of way; then, we now set the bar higher.

“We can also push for the President to appoint a minister from the FCT or the North Central or any platform he wishes as long as the person hails from Abuja. We’ll start off by getting a few gains. So, that is where I’m going to start.”

The Labour Party chieftain also assured that she would not abandon but continue with the legacies of the outgoing Senator representing the FCT, Sen. Philips Tanimu Aduda.

While extending the olive branch to her co-contestants in the February 25 election, she observed that Aduda had given his best in the last 12 years he represented the FCT and she would like to work from where he stopped. 

“I would also like to reach out to them. Make them understand that this whole thing is not me. If we all join hands, we can move FCT to places that it has not been before. I am ready to work with everybody irrespective of parties that contested with me. I am very ready to take their ideas and whatever they have done or they want, I am willing to work with them to get those things done.

“All the different parties in the FCT should see FCT as a mother for the rest of the State. I want all of them to consider me as their senator. They don’t have to show an attitude that oh, she is opposition or she’s not in my party. I am a senator for everybody, regardless of party, and I want them to know that.

“When things are needed, we will throw it open to everybody and we hope will give it to the best-qualified person regardless of where they’re coming from,” she said.