By Ismaila Jimoh, Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike has been unanimously confered with ” Hasken Abuja ” ( The Light of Abuja) chieftancy title by the FCT Council of Chiefs,an honour according to them hinges on Wike’s unprecedented performance in less than three years in office.
The announcement was made by the Chairman of the FCT Council of Chiefs and Ona of Abaji, Dr Adamu Baba Yunusa during a high-level appreciation visit by the Abuja FCT Stakeholders Assembly to the Minister on Thursday.
The monarch noted that the honor recognizes Wike’s “visionary leadership” and “commitment to the development of the FCT,” specifically citing his recent approval for the construction of a new Ona Palace in Abaji, the upgrading of the status and welfare of FCT traditional rulers, and structural reforms that have restored dignity to the traditional institution.
Reading from the list of request before the Minister,the traditional leadership of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, made a high-stakes appeal for constitutional reform, demanding an expansion of the territory’s representation in the National Assembly from one to three senatorial seats in view of the territory’s skyrocketing population running into over six millions.
”Considering the population of the FCT… we think that FCT deserves more than one senatorial district,” Dr. Yunusa stated.
Beyond the Senate, the monarchs also called for the creation of additional Federal Constituencies, the establishment of more Area Councils to decentralize governance and bring development closer to the grassroots.
The monarchs appealed to Minister Wike to act as a primary mediator between the FCT and the Presidency.
Describing Wike as a “Governor among Governors” for his dual role as Minister and de facto Governor, they urged him to facilitate a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to present these constitutional aspirations directly.
The Council also sought the Minister’s intervention in rectifying the FCT’s lack of representation on the Board of Trustees of the North Central Development Commission (NCDC), asserting their right as a key stakeholder state within the commission.
The traditional rulers also requested for the provision of 17 tractors—one for each of the 17 Chiefdoms—to bolster food security for the territory’s rural agrarian communities.
They also advocated for the elevation of historically significant chiefdoms, such as Garki and Jiwa, to higher statuses.
While responding to their demands,Wike promised to protect the interests of the indigenous people, granting several immediate requests:
He directed the Mandate Secretary for Agriculture to provide tractors for each of the 17 Chiefdoms.
Also, he instructed the Council of Chiefs to submit names for the creation of third-class traditional stools, stating, “It is not in my position to write who will be… you people should do the right thing.”
He pledged to resolve issues regarding land certificates based on the numbers submitted by the stakeholders.
”I’m now from here. For me to be the Light of Abuja, I must do everything to protect your interest,” Wike concluded, while maintaining that the FCT’s political future depends on having a “strong voice” in the National Assembly to lobby for the expansion of senatorial seats.
The event, which opened with remarks from former Federal Commissioner Dr. Aliyu Almakura Abdulkadir, underscored a new era of collaborative governance, with the traditional institution positioning itself as a central pillar in the FCT’s drive for political and economic expansion.