Gbagyi indegines appeals to Tinubu to carry them along in political appointments
Agency report
Some Nigerians of Gbagyi extraction have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure equity in his subsequent appointments by carrying them along in political appointments.
Mrs Dorothy Akenova, Patron of the National APC Supporters Centre made the appeal in Abuja at a news conference organised to protest the non inclusion of Gbagyi people in government.
Akenova said that as one of Gbagyi political leaders, the news conference was to convey the feelings of the over 10 million Gbagyi people in the country.
She added that the news conference was also to clear the air on allegations that some Gbagyi political leaders were being settled behind the scene to abandon their collective strategic interests.
She further added that in spite of being die-hard supporters of the APC and President Tinubu, Nigerians of Gbagyi extraction had not received any national recognition in terms of national appointments.
“You will recall that recently, at the instance of the Gbagyi nation, we held a solidarity rally in support of our esteemed President Tinubu, which underscored our unflinching support for both the APC and the president,” she said.
Akenova added that the Gbagyi nation was unhappy with the recurrent state of affairs, where its indegines had been consistently and conspicuously sidelined in government appointments.
This, she said, included the current appointments being made by Tinubu, which according to her, comprised largely the pillars of government.
“We, the Gbagyi people are generally known for being accommodating and peace loving.
“And we are of the firm belief that we have contributed greatly to the development of Nigeria at great cost to ourselves without commensurate rewards.
“The present Federal Capital Territory(FCT) for instance, is mainly Gbagyi land which has been appropriated to house the seat of government and its agencies.
“Needless to say that no sufficient compensation can be given for such a sacrifice. It has resulted in massive loss of livilihood among others,” she said.
She noted that while the seat of the Federal Government was firmly lodged in Abuja, the office of the Minister of the FCT or that of the junior Minister had never gone to a Gbagyi indigene.
Akenova, said it was therefore quite important that a Gbagyi indigene be allotted one of the two offices in recognition of their role and sacrifices in hosting the seat of government.
She appealed to Tinubu to reverse the past poor representation that Nigerians of Gbagyi extraction had suffered in the governance of the country.
Akenova said that a suitable proportion of government offices should be allocated to Gbagyi indegines, including that of the FCT.
“We are therefore, calling upon the government of Tinubu which has shown itself as a listening government to look into the cry of the Gbagyi people and ensure equity in subsequent appointments,” she said.
She, however, applauded Tinubu for his sure footed action which she said would set the country back on the path to greatness.