2019: Gbagyi people threaten to withdraw support from APC government over marginalisation.

2019: Gbagyi people threaten to withdraw support from APC government over marginalisation.

Olabode Adaramola

The Gbagyi people in Niger East Senatorial District, of Niger state and  the second largest ethnic group in the state, have resolved that they would not support the current All Progressives Congress- government in the state come 2019 for its failure to recognize the tribe  in the appointment of its principal officers.

The Gbagy people made their decision known on Tuesday at the 6th Diko Day cultural festival organized by the Diko community Development Association (DCDA) in Suleja local government of Niger state.

Moving the motion for the withdraw of support which was overwhelmingly adopted by the people, the Senator representing Niger East Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Senator David Umoru told the people that the state government has continued to marginalize the Gbagyi people in its political appointments thereby denying the zone of fair representation in the government.

The decision by the people is coming barely two weeks after Senator Umaru , at a Christmas carol organized by the state government in Minna, accused the APC-led administration in the state  of marginalizing the christian communities in the state with the absolution of customary court and replacing it with the sharia court, saying that the decision has denied the Christians the opportunity to have a court that they can approach to seek  justice.

“I am saying that as a Christian community those who will not subscribed to be tried by the sharia courts must not be denied the opportunity to have a court that they can approach for redress and justice. To address this issue the government needs to promulgate a law establishing area courts by sending executive bill to the state House of Assembly”, he declared

The Senator who said he will not relent in his struggle until Justice is said to have been done to the people, pointed out that the state government has continued to marginalize the Gbagyi people in its political appointments despite several appeals from the people for fair share in the scheme of things.

According to him, “today the main principal offices of the Niger state government does not take into cognition the fact of the Gbagyi as a people. This is against the constitution which states that every government must reflect the cultural diversity of its people. I want us to resolve today, that the Gbagyi people will not support any government that discriminates against them.

Henceforth we would support only government that will recognize us by making it possible to be part of that government”, he said.

Senator Umaru said it was sad and disappointing that after installing the government, the Gbagyi people were ignored in key political appointments by Governor Abubakar Sani Bello, adding that it is pity that the people were relegated to the background despite the efforts they made in putting together the government.

He further argued that the gbagyi man has gone through all kind of destitute at every point in time and were ignored when it matters most adding that his people cannot continue to work and get nothing.

“We are tired of grumbling. You will no longer grumble and go home and pretend that there is nothing wrong with us. We should not celebrate mediocrity.

Community interest will always protect personal interest better. There is no personal interest that can override community interest. Therefore we as Gbagyi people have resolved that we will not support any government that will not recognize us in government”, he said.

He thereby called on the Niger state government to review the appointments of the principal officers from the office of the Deputy Governor, SSG, Head of Service and the rest of them.

It could however be recalled that In a goodwill message, the 2015 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) in the 2015 gubernatorial election in the state, Alhaji Umar Nasko urged the Gbagyi people to be united and uphold their rich cultural heritage.

He said that the Gbagyi people were blessed with a Senator that was bold enough to speak for them when necessary,