Indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, under the umbrella of Abuja Original Inhabitants Youths Employment Organisation (AOIYEO), has completed plans to conduct community mayoral elections in FCT.
Mr Yahuza Abubakar, Secretary General AOIYEO made the disclosure on Tuesday in a press conference in Abuja.
Abubakar said original idea behind the formation of Abuja and what was expected from it structures which was called Abuja Master plan was to have a formidable Democratic structure in FCT.
According to him, the original idea behind the Abuja Master plan was to create a purpose-built city and districts where the indigenes and residents will have specific purposes in the area.
“It is very sad to say that the Master Plan has been completely neglected over time, and we see offices in housing districts, churches and mosques dotting residential areas, and assorted buildings springing up by the day.
“But, before the Master Plan, there was the constitution, in which Section 301 of the said constitution makes the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria the Governor of the FCT and the vice president, the Deputy Governor.
“The constitution also permits the president to appoint a minister who exercises powers delegated by the President in place since 1976, successive Presidents have utilized this power, notwithstanding its inherent flaws.
“The Minister owes her mandate to the President; the citizens of the state have little influence on policy concerning community security, socio-economic and political developments or evolvement.
“The typical Nigerian perspective is that only indigenous citizens know what is needed in their immediate community and regions, as such, leadership should be handled by ‘sons of the soil,” he said.
He maintained that the Abuja’s leaders have owed their mandate to the President, not to the people as they have witnessed celebrated Nigerian Governors drawing support for policies, taking direction from their electorate, except in the FCT.
However, he said there are advantages and disadvantages in FCT constitutional provisions in view subsequent ministers who have limited policy-making to land allocation and day to day administration.
The secretary said the FCT’s advantage has always been one of the first and most successful purpose-built cities in Africa buut, the lack of community participation puts the indigenes in jeopardy and at the losing end.
“The principal concern for local administration in the FCT ought to be that of local service delivery and how decision makers in Abuja’ local communities can improve the provision of public services.
“The playbook writes itself and the closer government is to the people, the better and that is why we have decided to change the narrative and rewrite history by organizing a Community Mayoral Election.
“Leaders will be closer to the people to know their plights and fashion out ways to solve them, also, this is because Abuja deserves leadership that will reflect the mind of young, ambitious, and scrappy nature of its growing electorates.
“A leadership that will take into accounts, the needs and desires of its citizens, perhaps more crucially, a FCT Community Mayor will be elected and recommended to the Minister for Appointments in order enhance citizens.
Abubakar said the process of the election into the office of Mayor of FCT will be indirect election, and will be conducted by carefully selected 20 delegates by Community Chiefs and Emirs representing the Six Area Council which include: ABAJI, KUJE. KWALI. GWAGWALADA, BWARI AND AMAC.
He said the delegates will nominate and endorse community Mayoral candidate for election from each area council and the winner will emerge after the election.
“The mayoral candidate MUST be endorsed by Emirs and recommended to the Minister/President for appointments on Rural Community participations concerning youth empowerment, community social enterprise, security and youth involvement to peaceful co-existence and development of metropolitan governance.
“The expected duty of the FCT Community Mayor when elected, will represent FCC with representatives across all communities within FCT, who shall have the responsibilities to furnish the Mayor with information concerning community and youth demands, security challenges as encountered in FCT.
“By the Emir or Chief in their kingdom and all others socio-economic request to the Mayor, who shall relay same Mayor to government through the FCT Minister.
“So also, policy instructions and other information and dividends of governance will also be relayed through this channel from the governments through the Mayor and down to the citizens for implementation.
“We believe that if this election is conducted and the right people, which are the Mayor and 62 Councillors of the FCT, are elected into offices, it will also go along way to curbing crimes and other social vices in the FCT, because it would help in engaging more youths positively when the opportunities arise,” he said.
