FCT Natives Vows To Resist Attempt To Discredit Permanent Secretary, – Gabriel Aduda.
By Sadiq Abubakar, Abuja.
Natives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the umbrella of Coalition of the FCT Indigenous Association (CFCTIA) has vowed to resist any attempt by some group, persons to discredit or dent image of the permanent secretary in the ministry of Sports, Mr Gabriel Aduda, over an ongoing investigation by the house of representatives into alleged diversion of N5.5 billion ministry’s fund.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, on Sunday, the leader of the coalition, Comrade Eziekel Dalhatu Musa, while reacting to online media publication, said the office of the permanent secretary was not the leading office of the ministry and cannot be in the position of deciding the manner of allocation and usage of funds.
He said the sponsors of the online media publication accusing the ministry, under Gabriel Aduda, about institutional corruption has also exposed the ignorance of the faceless group and their pay masters. even though the allegation.
“Talking about institutional corruption in the ministry and accusing Mr. Gabriel of such has also exposed the ignorance of the faceless group and their pay masters. Even though the allegation that our son seeks to personally enrich himself is laughable, we are careful not to allow this mischievous diatribe assume life of its own,” he said.
He said the appointment of Mr. Gabriel Aduda as permanent secretary was celebrated by FCT natives and most Nigerians not only because he had broken the record as one of the youngest permanent secretaries in the
federal civil service, but as one of the very best that was selected for the job.
“The natives have diligently followed his achievements and track record and do not only pride themselves with him but will do anything necessary to protect him. Therefore, any form of smear campaign against Mr. Gabriel Aduda will be stiffly resisted by the coalition and the natives of the FCT, ” he said.
He said it was quite disheartening that other Nigerians enjoyed single to double ministerial appointment, saying none of the FCT natives has ever been appointed as minister and representative of their people into the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
According to him, the appointment of Mr. Gabriel was the only political achievement that has brought the FCT natives succor in many years of their political and administrative struggle for national inclusion.
He explained that despite the natives have agitated for the fulfillment of several constitutional provisions in line with section 147(3) of the 1999 constitution as amended and the Federal Character Commission (FCC) act 2007, saying the natives has never been favored.
He said the achievements of Mr. Gabriel Aduda in bearly five months of his stay in the ministry should rather be applauded owing to his rugged and rooted administrative prowess as a career civil servant.
“Besides, saving cost in the ministry’s expenditure, Mr. Gabriel’s concept of flexible administration in the ministry is also evident in the output of the Ministry,”.
He added “It is now convincing that these unscrupulous element are only trying to misrepresent the activities of the federal ministry of Foreign Affairs under the leadership of the Hon. Minister, Dr. Onyeama Geoffrey, the Hon. Minsiter. of State Mr. Zubairu Dada, and the permanent secretary and as the marginalized FCT Natives through this coalition, we will resist any attempt at such,” he said.
He said as a reputable Coalition and natives of the FCT, they do not encouraged any form of mismanagement of public funds or blatant abuse of public offices by any individual.
” And we have lived through that in our several engagement in subnational and national contemporary issues in this country. If we fail to set the records straight by not responding to this malicious, absolutely false and unpatriotic publication against our son, it will amount to avalanche disservice to the Gbagyi leople, the FCT, humanity and Nigeria,” he said.
The natives, therefore, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, and the leadership of the house of representatives to encourage the ongoing house investigative panel on the ministry’s activities and make the results public for Nigerians and the international community.
the permanent secretary in the ministry of Sports, Mr Gabriel Aduda
” We also request that where necessary, the President Buhari should also direct the anti-graft agencies to dive into action to avert any further pilfering by those culpable in the investigative report,” the natives added.
