Indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory under the umbrella of Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja [OIDA], have appealed to the federal government to give the territory the status of a state with its own governor and state house of assembly.

Their demand for Gbakka state is being worked out through constitutional amendment at the National Assembly.

Addressing a news conference in Abuja, chairman, board of trustees of the association, Dr. Abubakar Wodi said the original inhabitants of Abuja have been alienated from the scheme of things in the federal capital territory with the forceful acquisition of their land since 1976.

The association expressed regrets over the continuous neglect of the original inhabitants of Abuja in terms of full participation in governance and provision of educational, economic, social, political opportunities and infrastructural facilities saying it is a social injustice against the original people of the area.