‘FCT councils have no business appointing market leaders’

The Young Progressives Party (YPP) chairmanship candidate for Saturday’s election in Abaji Area Council, Alhaji Muhammad Angulu Loko, has stated that area councils should not be involved in appointing market and cattle market leaders. He argued that such appointments fall solely under the jurisdiction of the Ona of Abaji, HRM Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa, the […]

The Young Progressives Party (YPP) chairmanship candidate for Saturday’s election in Abaji Area Council, Alhaji Muhammad Angulu Loko, has stated that area councils should not be involved in appointing market and cattle market leaders.

He argued that such appointments fall solely under the jurisdiction of the Ona of Abaji, HRM Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa, the chairman of the FCT council of traditional rullers and other paramount rulers within the area councils.

Loko made these remarks during a visit to the Ona of Abaji, who also serves as the Chairman of the FCT Council of Chiefs.

The candidate visited the palace to seek the monarch’s blessing ahead of Saturday’s election.

He noted that interference in such appointments by area councils demonstrates a lack of regard for the revered traditional institution.

He pledged that, if elected, his administration would not interfere in appointments or issues that are primarily the responsibility of the palace.

“We have observed persistent crises within the leadership of the Abaji main market and the cattle market, which resulted from interference by the area council,” Loko said. “I want to assure this palace that, if given the mandate, my administration will not interfere. Instead, the palace will be allowed to choose whoever it wants to lead the two markets.”

The candidate further promised to provide scholarships to students in various tertiary institutions across the country.

He also pledged that his administration would tackle the perennial water scarcity facing residents of the council.

Responding on behalf of the Ona of Abaji, the Agbo of Abaji, Shuaibu Ozi Umoru, welcomed the candidate and his campaign team. He expressed the palace’s satisfaction that all candidates vying for the chairmanship seat are indigenes of the council.

The monarch noted that only “the vote of God Almighty” determines who becomes the council chairman.

He maintained that the palace remains neutral and prayed that whoever God chooses will lead the council with the fear of God.

The monarch advised politicians to view one another as brothers and avoid the politics of hatred, reminding them that “politics will come and go, but relationships remain.”