AOIYEO questions Amnesty International’s focus on Kuje chairman controversy, demands greater attention to alleged demolitions, displacement and marginalisation of FCT indigenous communities.
ABUJA — Indigenous residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under the Abuja Original Inhabitants Youths Empowerment Organisation (AOIYEO), have criticised Amnesty International over its intervention in the political controversy involving the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Hon. Samuel Danjuma Shekwolo.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, AOIYEO Executive Director, Commandant Isaac David, described Amnesty International as a respected global human rights organisation but questioned what he termed its “selective intervention” in issues affecting FCT indigenous communities.
The criticism followed Amnesty International’s reaction to a viral video purportedly showing the Kuje chairman making political remarks, including the statement, “It’s either you are doing APC or leave the Area Council.”
David said AOIYEO was not defending any alleged threat contained in the video, but expressed concern over what he described as the organisation’s limited attention to longstanding challenges confronting indigenous people across the FCT.
He cited issues including alleged demolitions, displacement, land disputes, insecurity, inadequate compensation and concerns over the political and administrative participation of original inhabitants.
According to David, such issues affect indigenous communities across the FCT’s 858 communities and deserve sustained attention from human rights organisations.
He urged Amnesty International to adopt what he described as a more consistent and comprehensive approach to human rights concerns in the nation’s capital, regardless of the political affiliation of those involved.
David maintained that the rights of FCT indigenous people to land, property, security, dignity and political participation should receive the same level of attention as other human rights concerns.
