LETTER: Bill on Indigeneship capable of inciting ethnic conflict, De Renaissance Patriots Foundation tells Reps Speaker

By KEMI KASUMU

The Speaker of the Nigerian House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has been told to drop the idea of entertaining a new bill seeking to alter existing indigeneship rights as contained in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as doing so has potential for inciting ethnic conflict across the country.

This was contained in a letter dated 2nd April 2025 and addressed to the Speaker with the attention of Honorable Members of the House of Representatives from the Lagos State Caucus and South-Western Caucus, titled, “REJECTION OF THE PROPOSED FEDERAL BILL ON INDIGENOUS RIGHTS DUE TO ITS POTENTIAL TO INCITE ETHNIC CONFLICT”.

Details of the letter was contained in a statement dated Wednesday April 9, 2025 and released to the press by Media Office of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation on Thursday April 10.

According to the letter, signed by its Alternate Chairman Board of Trustees, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Rtd), President, Mr. Miftau Bolaji Are, and Secretary General, Mr. Taofeeq Yomi Tokosi, and has since been stamped received by the Office of the Speaker in Abuja with date 07 April 2025, De Renaissance Patriots Foundation made its case against the Bill clear and expressly asked for it to be dropped in the interest of the nation and peace, unity and security of its good people.

“We, the undersigned representatives of De-Renaissance Patriots Foundation, a socio-cultural organization based in Lagos State, write to express our deep concerns regarding the proposed Federal Bill on Indigenous Rights.

“Our organization is committed to advocating for the rights of Lagos indigenes, particularly in the areas of self-governance and self-determination.

“While we acknowledge the intention of Hon. Kalu Okezie in proposing legislation that seeks to grant indigenous rights to individuals who have resided in a particular location for ten years or have been married to an indigenous person for the same duration, we strongly oppose this bill due to its potentially destabilizing consequences.

“This legislation, if passed, could lead to widespread ethnic tensions, communal violence, and conflicts among various groups. The existing legal framework already provides for the recognition and protection of indigenous rights in Nigeria, as enshrined in Sections 13 and 14 of the Constitution and reinforced by the Federal Character Commission Act. The primary objective of the Act is to safeguard the interests of indigenous peoples and ensure equitable representation across the country. Any attempt to redefine indigeneship by conflating it with residency or citizenship would undermine these constitutional protections and exacerbate tensions.

“Furthermore, the Federal Character Commission Act has not been fully implemented, meaning that indigenous communities have yet to fully enjoy their rights. Introducing legislation that dilutes these rights could have serious consequences, including the marginalization of indigenous groups and increased friction among communities.

“Globally, nations such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand have enacted laws that uphold the distinct rights of indigenous peoples, ensuring their access to self-determination, cultural preservation, and governance. At no time have these countries equated indigenous rights with residency-based citizenship. Nigeria must not deviate from this principle, as doing so could lead to unintended social and political turmoil.

“In light of these concerns, we urge the Lagos State Caucus in the National Assembly to firmly reject this bill. The proposal is inconsistent with principles of natural justice, equity, and good conscience. Its enactment could incite social unrest similar to the xenophobic conflicts witnessed in South Africa.

“Lagos State, like other indigenous territories, has long maintained a delicate balance of peace and cultural identity. It is imperative that this harmony is preserved, and no policy should be introduced that could undermine the historical and legal rights of its indigenous people.

“Rt. Hon Speaker sir, it will be noted that this noble organization had earlier submitted a Memorandum on Indigenship/Residency/Citizenship dated April, 2024 and which up till today we received no invite to defend our position by the Federal House of Representatives but we later see is that our position was unattended to while the house is trying to scrap or deny us our customary rights by stripping us of our rights to indigenship.

“We have full confidence in your leadership and commitment to upholding the interests of Lagos indigenes. We urge you to take a firm stance against this bill and protect the historical and constitutional rights of indigenous communities in Lagos and across Nigeria,” the Group stated in the letter.