SaharaReporters had reported that a group of youths under the aegis of Concerned Citizens of Kutunku in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja on Friday staged a peaceful protest against the deplorable condition of Kutunku market and abattoir roads in the area.
The Take-It-Back Movement chapter in the Gwagwalada area council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, has tackled the council chairman, Abubakar Jibrin Giri for insulting the residents over their protest against the bad state of the infrastructure in the council.
SaharaReporters had reported that a group of youths under the aegis of Concerned Citizens of Kutunku in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja on Friday staged a peaceful protest against the deplorable condition of Kutunku market and abattoir roads in the area.
The youths had also threatened to shut down the Gwagwalada Area Council Secretariat and office of the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, if their demands were not met.
The placards-carrying protesters in their number had marched through Kutunku market road to demand for immediate repair of the roads which they said had been in bad shape for years.
Some of the inscriptions on the placards had read; “Save Gwagwalada Now”; “We Can't Continue Like This”; “Repair Market and Abattoir Road Now”; “We Can't Keep Silence and Be Suffering”; “We Deserve Better Treatment” and among others.”
In a press statement issued by Ibrahim Yamawo, Press Secretary to Executive Chairman, Gwagwalada Area Council on Saturday, the council claimed that the protest took place without considering the good performance of the Abubakar Jibrin Giri-led administration.
The statement read in part: “We challenge the protesters and beyond to always assess the performance of Hon. Abubakar Jibrin Giri-led administration and over his intervention on the above-mentioned projects through FCTA. Recall that the Chairman has several times inspected the abandoned projects with FCTA.
“We have equally extolled the Chairman's track record of leadership, his youth and women empowerment schemes across the 10 political wards and youth inclusion in governance which is clearly known by the General public. I advise the protesters never in any amount of money paid to them allow themselves to be use by selfish individuals.”
Reacting to the claims, the Take-It-Back Movement chastised the council chairman for not convening a meeting with the demonstrators to discuss how to take the council forward.
The TIB statement said, “In blatant disregard for the plight of Gwagwalada's citizens, the chairman of Gwagwalada area council and its leadership have chosen insults over dialogue in response to the impassioned pleas of our aggrieved youth demanding better roads and a brighter future. Quoting the Nigerian Constitution, which upholds the right to peaceful assembly (Chapter IV, Section 40), we assert that their voices are not only valid but crucial for the sustenance of democracy.
“The statement advising protesters not to allow themselves to be used by selfish individuals is not just foolish but a gross underestimation of the genuine suffering endured by the people of Gwagwalada. Despite collecting substantial revenue daily from shop owners and market traders at Gwagwalada market, the area council turns a blind eye to the deplorable state of the roads.
“Punch's investigation, prompted by an FOI letter from the Take It Back Movement to the chairman, revealed the council's attempt to shirk responsibility for the Gwagwalada market road. If they deny accountability for this, what about the abbatoir road, Giri internal road, and old Kutunku internal roads? It is a disgrace for the chairman to insult the youth, accusing them of being motivated solely by monetary gain.
“Turning our attention to the chairman's track record, claims of accomplishments crumble in the face of reality. Public funds are diverted into personal assets like cars, houses, and lands, while the pressing needs of the community are neglected. The supposed construction of the townhall stands exposed as a facade – an abandoned project that speaks louder than the chairman's empty promises.
“Mr. Ibrahim Yamawo, the press secretary is complicit in the charade, acknowledging the chairman's selective distribution of palliatives and empowerment exclusively to his cronies. His attempt to sugarcoat this reality by praising the chairman's so-called "youth and women empowerment scheme" across the 10 political wards is a betrayal of the truth.
“As the Take It Back Movement Nigeria - North Central, we demand a public apology from the chairman of Gwagwalada area council. It is time for immediate action to address the dire state of the roads and for the chairman to fulfill his responsibilities to the people of Gwagwalada. Our call is not just for roads but for justice, accountability, and a revolutionary change that places the welfare of the community above personal interests.”