By Veronica Dariya
Bwari (Abuja) – The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Tuesday announced that traditional rulers in Bwari Area Council would have to sign agreement to ensure peace in the area.
Mr Adamu Bappah, Mandate Secretary, Area Council Service of the FCTA announced this at a Security and stakeholders’ meeting in the Council Secretariat in Bwari, Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was held to address and provide lasting solutions to the frequent breakdown of law and order in the area.
Bappah stated that the agreement would contain what Alhaji Awwal Ijakoro, Sarkin Bwari and Mr Ibrahim Yaro, Etsu Bwari said as they would agree to ensure peace is restored in the area.
“After all that happened on Christmas day, now this. What could possibly happen in the next two months when we have another celebration or even in December, when it’s Christmas.
“This cannot continue, that means we have been giving lip service to peace restoration in Bwari.
” Not that we do not want to let the minister take a drastic action on this matter but we want to take things step by step.
” Therefore, the two royal fathers must come to an agreement, which we would write from the Minister’s office and both of them would sign and agree to the terms.
” Where they may have objections, an opportunity would be given to them to point them out before the agreement is legally binding with their legal representatives, the Chief Judge of the FCT and others. ”
He noted that the entire process, which would be practicalised within a week, would also involve the Chairman of the Council, Mr Musa Dikko and the security agencies in the area.
Bappah, who decried the entire situation, described it as unfortunate, the inability of the youths in the area to listen and adhere to the call for peace by their traditional heads.
This, he said, was a lapse from both rulers as one was expected to give account of his role when trusted with the mantle of leadership.
On the plea from some quarters for the 6 a.m to 6 p.m curfew to be relaxed, Bappah said that the administration would put that into consideration after the security agents on ground have concluded and made available their assessment reports.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Council, Mr Musa Dikko, described the situation as an attempt to sabotage his regime.
He said: ” We suspect there is a plan to disrupt the APC administration in this council. I have tried to strenghten the traditional institutions in this administration, yet, no measure was respected.
” I think the target is my seat as chairman of the council.
” I have before the 2017 Christmas celebration, held a stakeholders’ meeting to ensure the sermon of peace was preached to the people and also done so before this sallah celebrations, yet this is still happening.
” It means my position as Chairman of the council is not respected.”
Dikko said that the security agents on ground have been civil enough in curbing the the situation but are being pushed to the wall.
According to him, the curfew imposed in the town has helped maintain orderliness in the area, but the security agents have threatened to take action if similar incidences continue to reflect.
He also commended the promptness of the security agents in tackling the situation while urging the royal fathers to give the FCT administration the assurance that they would talk to their various followers to be peaceful.
NAN recalls that a 6 p.m to 6 a.m curfew was on Sunday imposed in the town following a security challenge that erupted again on Saturday, June 16, during the Eid-el-Fitir celebration, as youths clashed and disrupted the peace of the area.
The meeting was attended by all royal fathers in the Council, Directors of various departments in the Area Council Secretariat of the FCTA, representatives from the various security agencies and staff of the Council Secretariat.
(NAN)