Nigerians Must Stand Against Oppression, Says Lawmaker

Nigerians have been exhorted by House of Representatives member Hon. Inombek Abiante to resist all forms of persecution, irrespective of personal prejudices. At a meeting between the FCT Traditional Council and the House of Representatives Committee on FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters in Abuja on Monday, he made this request.

His colleague, Hon. Jonathan Gwefwi, denounced the relocation of the FCT’s original residents under the pretext of resettlement, which spurred Abiante to make the call. The FCT’s residents had nowhere else to call home, and Gwefwi called the situation “painful.”

Abiante observed that the indigenous people have not benefited from several resettlement projects. Under the direction of HRH Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa, Chairman of the FCT Traditional Council, he tasked traditional leaders with protecting their citizens from tyranny.

The senator also called out the government’s repressive treatment of the Niger Delta’s residents, pointing to the recent declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State. He made it clear that keeping quiet about injustice would only make things worse.

Abiante said that Nigerians will ultimately become victims themselves if they do not speak out against injustice. In spite of their prejudices and backgrounds, he exhorted everyone to stand up against oppression.

The lawmaker also considered how Nigerian crude oil exploration started as a private project by the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC). He pointed out that the nation still faces a number of issues that resulted from the nationalization of petroleum as a national asset.

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The continuous hardships of the people of the FCT and the Niger Delta are brought to light by Abiante’s remarks. His call to action highlights how critical it is to speak out against oppression and injustice.

In order to address the issues facing the country, government agencies and traditional leaders must work together and communicate, as the meeting between the FCT Traditional Council and the House of Representatives Committee illustrates.