The Labour Party Senator-elect in Abuja, Ireti Kingibe, has said that she will work to ensure that a mayoralty status and ministerial slot for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is given to indigenes of the city in order for them to have a sense of belonging.
Kingibe stated this yesterday while interacting with journalists in Abuja.
Her comment is coming days after a High Court of the FCT scheduled April 24, 2023, to hear a suit by Abuja’s original inhabitants seeking that the Nigerian capital be granted the full status of a state like the existing 36, and with its own state governor.
Responding to questions on the demand by the original inhabitants of the Abuja seeking a full status of a state for the FCT with a governor, Kingibe said: “The status of the FCT is constitutional, and I personally cannot do anything until the constitution is amended.
“The status of the FCT is already determined by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
She, however, promised that upon resumption, she would explore other available windows to commence the process that could help the people secure total control of their own affairs such that would guarantee them those rights and privileges enjoyed by other states of the federation.The LP chieftain said: “If you understand the physiology of a woman, we don’t jump straight to the biggest things. We start taking them small by small till we get them all.
“I am going to start by pushing for a mayoralty for the FCT where we can have more control of the things that happen in the FCT in an executive way. Then we will set the bar higher and push for the president to appoint a minister of the FCT under North Central or any platform he wishes as long as the person comes from the FCT. That is where I am going to start from.”