By Ben Adoga, Abuja
Irate protesters on Tuesday morning stormed the FCT Minister’s office chanting solidarity songs, raising placards and demanding that their land promised since after El – Rufai’s administration be given to them.
This was as the Minister who barely has few days to the end of his tenure was in the Presidential Villa attending an extraordinary valedictory season.
The protesters blocked the main and only open gate to the Minister’s office. Workers who were yet to report to work could not gain access while those who were already at work and visitors alike could not leave through the main gate, except the very narrow pedestrian gate at the corner towards the mosque.
The protesters were said to be organised auto-mechanics from across the Federal Capital Territory.
The group included, spare parts traders and mechanics, mainly from the Apo Mechanic Village.
Speaking at random, they said they were protesting the delay in relocating them to their official land which they applied for and were promised since 2007 after the El-Rufai administration demolished their activities on road corridors.
They accused the government of dribbling because, according to them, because they are from the informal sector and not government employees.
They vowed to remain at the main entrance of the FCT Minister’s office and that they would cripple activities there until their demands are met. They demanded that all documents of the land allocation for their relocation be signed instantly, in their presence.
While these happened, Head of Internal Security to the FCT Minister, Olubiyi Sunday who attended to them persuaded them to clear the only access into the FCT Minister’s office while they are being attended to.
While appealing to the vexed protesters, Sunday told them: “While you have the right to air your grievances, you do not have the right to prevent others from accessing their place of legitimate business, where your right stops is where other people’s rights starts. You cannot stop me from entering my house or any public place and yet want me to attend to you.
“Can you please clear the gate and go under the trees to allow access into the premises while we attend to the leaders.
“All you want is to be heard, the press are with you, the world and the nation are already seeing and hearing you. Just clear the gate while the we attend to the leaders.”
The protesters who reluctantly succumbed and cleared the gate after hours of blockade allowed talks with their leaders.
At press time, it was not certain what the resolution was, but talks were still on.
