Group urged FG to rescue Abuja Original Inhabitants from Statelessness

FAVOUR ISHEMBER, Abuja

The Helpline Foundation for the Needy, with support from MacArthur Foundation has appealed to the government of Nigeria to recognize the efforts of the fathers of the Abuja Original Inhabitants  and rescue their children from  statelessness.

The Foundation, through the resounding support from CHRICED , while asking that the Original Inhabitants be given a listening ears, implemented the project to revamp the cultural heritage of the OI through women and youth empowerment and cultural preservation.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, on the role of traditional skill transfer in the preservation of culture, the FCT original inhabitants perspective, the President, Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Abuja, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, said the empowerment so far is to train the Original inhabitant Youths and women on traditional skills that was endangered by urbanization of the FCT among other 17 projects, so far carried out by the  Foundation which cut across the five objectives proposed by the foundation.

Represented by the project officer, Onoja Arome,Dr. Ahmadu said over 81 beneficiaries have been trained on cultural skills and are ready to continue to preserve their culture in the place where their land is fast becoming a no man’s land.

In the words of Dr. Ahmadu:” On 19 May 2022, we successfully graduated the participants who were place on a six months training on the traditional skill transfer at the exhibition pavilion social development secretariat area 10 Abuja.

” we have carried out about three exhibitions to show case and display the achievement of these OI participants who have learnt the traditional skills and are ready to continue to preserve their culture from further extinctions on 26th of March we were at CHRICED office to welcome the president of MacArthur Foundation Mr. John Palfrey and the Senior Admin Manager MacArthur Foundation among other executives from the foundation who were there present; alongside were our facilitators who displayed the Traditional Attires matted by the women and youth of the OIs from the Nine tribes of the FCT”

She explained that the project actually cut across all the tribes evidenced in the FCT which are: The Gbagyi, Amwamwa, koro, Gade, Gwandara, Gbari, Egbura, Bassa and Ganagana respectively.

These tribes, she said have their separate colours and fabrics for unique cultural identification which were going on extinction before the timely intervention of the MacArthur Foundation and CHRICED.

The Helpline President added that the Helpline Foundation have also taken steps to advocate for the preservation of cultural sites i.e the Asumbo dyeing pits of Ushafa, the Iron Smelting Sites of Takushara, the Gold tunnels and the colonial lodges in Takushara. As we speak, the Dyeing Pits in Ushafa  has been reclaimed and work  currently  ongoing which means our advocacy has reached physical intervention.

“By first week of November we shall be visiting Takushara with our sponsor organization on a tour to further advocate on the preservation of the relics available in Takushara

“We are furthering our advocacy to radio programs which shall be aired soon and we believe to reach more stakeholders who will join us on  the fight to promote the rights of the original inhabitants of FCT” she continued.

Dr Ahmadu stressed that becomes  pertinent as the Original Inhabitants of FCT have been rendered stateless since the turning of their Fathers Land to the Nation’s capital and all rights and privileges have been usurp by urbanization without adequate compensation.

“That is not all; the remaining evidence of their existence has also been seriously encroached upon endangering their existence as a people. We all know the danger of statelessness which among other things are infringement on the constitution of a country’s region and security; with regards to this, we beg to ask; how can an indigene be looked upon as a stranger and a threat in his own fathers land?

“It is on this note we plead with the government of Nigeria to recognize the efforts of the fathers of the land of FCT and rescue their children from the statelessness and give them a listening ears to provide a state for the Original Inhabitants of FCT.

“These action when taken by the Government will not only revamp the economic system of the Federal Capital Territory but also create further international relation as the preserved monument will serve as the FCT soft power asset creating further trust to international community and investors and also serve as a means of hospitality and tourism attractions adding beauty to the FCT and its environs”

Dr Ahmadu stressed that becomes  pertinent as the Original Inhabitants of FCT have been rendered stateless since the turning of their Fathers Land to the Nation’s capital and all rights and privileges have been usurp by urbanization without adequate compensation.

“That is not all; the remaining evidence of their existence has also been seriously encroached upon endangering their existence as a people. We all know the danger of statelessness which among other things are infringement on the constitution of a country’s region and security; with regards to this, we beg to ask; how can an indigene be looked upon as a stranger and a threat in his own fathers land?

“It is on this note we plead with the government of Nigeria to recognize the efforts of the fathers of the land of FCT and rescue their children from the statelessness and give them a listening ears to provide a state for the Original Inhabitants of FCT.

“These action when taken by the Government will not only revamp the economic system of the Federal Capital Territory but also create further international relation as the preserved monument will serve as the FCT soft power asset creating further trust to international community and investors and also serve as a means of hospitality and tourism attractions adding beauty to the FCT and its environs” she said.

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