With the appointment of former Governor of Rivers, Nyesom Wike Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) by President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday, it marks the first time a southerner is appointed into such position in 47 years.
The first time a southerner to be appointed as FCT minister was in 1976 when former military head of state, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun.
Ajose-Adeogun was appointed by a southerner into that position, so also is Wike, who was appointed by a southern president, Tinubu as FCT minister.
According to a former presidential spokesman, Reno Omokri, “it has taken forty-seven years for a non-Northerner to occupy that position again and coincidentally, just like in 1976, the person was appointed by a fellow Southerner.
“Sadly, the original indigenes of the area now known as the Federal Capital Territory have never been appointed minister.
“Hopes had been high that the President would appoint the first FCT indigene ever nominated as a minister, Zephaniah Jisalo, to that position. But we have seen the way the cookie crumbled.”
Folarin Kehinde is an Abuja-based journalist with over 5 years of experience in journalism. His work has earned him national and international recognition across various beats, including environment, health and politics.
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