Abuja Is A No Man

Abuja Is A No Man’s Land

Farouk Martins Aresa

When Abuja was being planned, it was indicated that they were looking for a neutral place, unlike Lagos or Calabar that already belonged to ethnic groups. Every Nigerian would be welcomed and there would be no domination of one group by the other. Some were wondering if a virgin place still existed in Nigeria that can be called a no man’s land as we want. We did not know that they were going to displace some natives who would be glad to move from mud huts to Government reservations or slums.

Many Nigerians who have been paying attention to the allocation of land in Abuja heard about politicians making more than one allocation to one another in the Obasanjo era. We may have to wait and see what is being allocated in Yar’Adua’s time. Babangida was the first head of State to move to Abuja, so some of the allocation started before that time.

Buried in the allocation of land to the high and the mighty is the slum surrounding Abuja. Slowly but surely, we are going to hear more of it when it erupts in the face of politicians.

We have heard about squatters that are trying to deface Abuja and the swift action of the planners who destroy the eyesore near their beautiful properties. We can’t blame them, it will lower the value of their properties and brings hoodlums too close for comfort.

Has anyone heard about how much allocation were made to others, less prominent than late Senator Kuta son of mud hut settlers? If Nigeria has anything to learn from our past, it is that one day, the educated son and daughters will demand their share of the land owned by the forefathers. We all know that Abuja itself was created like Israel by cutting space out of existing states. But I am not sure that we are doing everything to make sure some of these prime land allocations are extended to many sons and daughters of its soil.

The early settlers were the Gbagyi, Bassa, Gade, Gwadara, Koro, Ganagana, Beriberi and others. Before the ambulance chasers or lawyers start running around taking briefs as in Lagos land cases in court, one would think that our Government would anticipate trouble down the road and pre-empt any claim of injustice. Our attitude has always been to cross the river when we get there. Land is very important, not only in Nigeria but every where.

Anyone familiar with Ikoyi and Victoria Island in Lagos of those days compare to what they are now may sympathize with them. In those days Ikoyi was designated as special Government Reservation Area for colonial civil servants and some crony Africans. But for the guts of Adelabu Adegoke who disturb their peace with gongon drummers waking him up in the morning, no crony reminded colonial masters that they do not belong. The people of Lagos are now trying to reclaim Ikoyi since it is no more an eminent domain.

Most Nigerians could have thought that politicians sliced Abuja cake amongst themselves until El Rufai then came out with a bombshell that Igbo got more allocation than others. Yeah, sure, fool us again my brother. May be they split the size of a football field into hundred pieces. The fact is the politicians from North and South took care of themselves as the probe has revealed. Believe me, there are more allocations going on right now.

We have to be careful so that these politicians do not knock our heads together as usual. When the Gbagyi owners who are the majority in Abuja come knocking for more share of their land, who are they going to go after? They should go for the throats of the politicians who are having field moments allocating to relatives. We can not rely on those potatoes allocations to different ethnic groups when the real juicy and meaty allocations go to who and who all over Nigeria. Why they were trying to divert attention away from themselves to different ethnic groups could possibly be to evade the wrath of the owners when their anger reaches a boiling point as Gbagyi were also displaced for Shiroro Dam.

In fairness to the Government, some of us working at the Federal Secretariat in the 80s were offered flat allocations as incentive to move to Abuja. Some did and some never left Lagos. Looking at what Abuja has now become, on 20/20 insight, it may have been a mistake. However, a few of us still have not regretted it. Moreover, as you get older, you just want to stay put in a familiar place.

Today, Abuja has become one of the most expensive cities in the world. Without rental income, it would be unaffordable for poor original settlers to even think about living there. If there is anything to learn from Jos Plateau area, Niger Delta area, Ife area and now Ajah in Lagos, families do not disappear into the thin air, whatever their past claim to the land .We do not have to wait until feud raises its ugly head to get a fire fighter.

Of course we already have fire all over the place and our hands are full. One will think that with a population of 140 million, we can busily engage our too many idle politicians and civil servants. Oh, they are doing their best destroying slums springing up around Abuja. We understand why we have slums around major cities around the world. These slums and Nyanya labor camp should also be called service centers, without which the major cities may not survive. That is where all the cheap laborers come from.

The cost of reaching the affluent areas if the laborers have to move far away to their jobs will eat all their pay. These are not wealthy suburban driving to the cities or taking luxury buses or go-trains. Even the wealthy ones are now groaning under the cost of traveling or the amount of petrol to fill their cars and generators.

There is something more dangerous about Abuja though; the slums surrounding it are occupied not only by other Nigerians but by Gbagyi, Bassa, Gade, Gwadara, Ganagana, Koro and Beriberi owners of the center. The amount of money sunk into Abuja, the billions of naira and dollars flowing in the City of milk and honey have not spread to these slums. That is what Nigerians call suffer-head in the midst of plenty.

Here we are asking the Government to divert more additional oil money to rebuild Niger Delta, this bobo is preaching for dormant slum militants around Abuja. Chinekeme!

A fool and his money will part if he can’t walk and chew gum. How a man manages his family, business, and environment determines how money is used to manage a country. A man on government training all his life, who has stolen all his life, or sucked others dry, will not suddenly become a skilful manager. He will display deliberate indifference.