FCT youths protest appointment of Benue indigene to North Central Development Commission board

DDM News

A group of FCT youths staged a protest at the National Assembly on Wednesday.

They were protesting the appointment of Mr. Solomon Adodo from Benue State, Diaspora Digital Media (DDM).

Adodo was appointed to the board of the newly established North Central Development Commission (NCDC).

The protesters marched peacefully to the National Assembly complex in Abuja.

They held placards and chanted slogans expressing dissatisfaction with the appointment.

The FCT Youth Stakeholders’ Forum organized the protest against the exclusion of FCT indigenes.

They claimed the appointment marginalizes the Federal Capital Territory in regional affairs.

Some placards read, “NCDC is not only for Benue State” and “Benue State has three representatives already.”

Others included messages like “Senator Akpabio don’t shortchange people of the FCT” and “Adodo is from Benue State.”

The group called on Senate President Godswill Akpabio to reverse the appointment immediately.

Speaking to journalists, their spokesperson, Comrade Yunusa Ahmadu Yusuf, explained the group’s grievances.

He said the FCT is always excluded from key appointments in the North Central zone.

Yusuf emphasized that the FCT deserves representation in the NCDC.

He added that the exclusion of the FCT is a recurring injustice.

The FCT is geographically part of the North Central region.

According to Yusuf, millions live in the FCT, including its indigenous population.

He stressed the need for inclusiveness in all development commissions.

“Benue already has three representatives,” he said.

“Now another person from Benue is appointed, how is that fair?”

He insisted that the NCDC should serve all North Central states and the FCT equally.

The protesters demanded a review of the board’s composition.

They called on President Bola Tinubu and relevant authorities to act quickly.

The protest remained peaceful and drew the attention of lawmakers and the public.

No official statement had been released by the Senate President at press time.

The protesters promised to continue peaceful advocacy for fair representation.

They warned that continued exclusion may spark more agitation.

The NCDC was created to tackle development and security challenges in the North Central zone.

However, the board appointments have already triggered public controversy.

The FCT youth group insists that fairness and justice must guide all such appointments.

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