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By Nasir Kura
The federal government would adopt all necessary measures that would lead to the amicable and just resolution of the land dispute between indigenous people of Abuja and the Nigerian Army, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has said.
Osinbajo said this Monday during a meeting with a delegation of Gbagyi leaders comprising political office holders and traditional and youth leaders at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Last week Tuesday, on his way to the airport to launch the Homegrown School Feeding Programme in Ekiti state, the vice president ran into some protesters at Goza village. The protesters blocked his motorcade prompting him to alight to engage with the angry youths, a move that culminated into today’s meeting.
Osinbajo said he had briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the matter and would find out from the Chief of Staff to the President what the presidential committee constituted to look into the issues has so far done.
“What is very important now is that we do not allow a situation where things are not done according to the law and due process. It is also important that this issue is resolved amicably and justly,” he said.
The vice president also directed authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to submit to his office, a comprehensive report on the disputed land and what it has done to resolve the matter.
Earlier in his remarks, Mr Philip Aduda, the Senator representing FCT at the National Assembly, dismissed claim by the army authorities that the land was allocated to it, and appreciated the intervention of the vice president.
Also speaking, the Secretary of Area Councils Service Secretariat, Senator Isa Maina said the FCT authorities has already proposed to allocate a plot of land to the Nigerian Army in Kwali in an effort to address the issue.
He said contrary to the directive by the presidential committee that all parties involved in the matter should maintain status quo, the Nigerian Army has proceeded to construct structures on the disputed land.
On his part, the Emir of Jiwa, His Royal Highness Idris Musa said the indigenous people of Abuja are not against the Nigerian Army in any way but want a just and amicable resolution of the matter.
