A member of the House of Representatives, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, has urged Nigerians to speak against all forms of oppression, irrespective of all biases.
He made the call on Monday while reacting to remarks by Chairman of the House committee on solid minerals Jonathan Gwefwi, who condemned the displacement of the original inhabitants of the FCT though a resettlement programme.
“It is painful how the people are being taken advantage of. The people of the FCT have no other home than the FCT.”
The lawmaker recalled multiple resettlement programmes which have never ended well in favour of the indigenes.
He also charged the traditional rulers led by Chairman of the FCT Traditional Council, HRH, Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa to stand firm in defence of their subjects, who they were appointed to protect.
Abainte blamed the government on how the people of the Niger Delta have been deprived of their good lives, citing the recent proclamation of State of Emergency in Rivers State as oppressive and against the wishes of the people.
“It has happened in Rivers State and nobody is saying anything. If you don’t speak against injustice today, tomorrow, there would be nobody to speak for you when there is injustice. Today, it has hit you and it is moving until it gets to everybody”, he said.
The lawmaker recalled that the beginning of exploration of crude oil Nigeria was a private initiative by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) which was going well until Nigeria nationalised petroleum as a national asset, setting the stage for the myriads of problems facing the nation today.
