Lord Lugard and other stake holders had in 1914 amalgamated the northern and the southern protectorate of what is now known as Nigeria.
Prior to this development, the people of these two different geographical areas do relate in on way or the other. The European masters who amalgamated this two region do so to strengthen the peoples unity despite their cultural diversity.
Leaders from different ethnic groups and tribe in Nigeria fought collectively for freedom from the colonial masters, which they succeed.
But today we see that the works of our Heroes is gradually been tarnished, there is no more unity amongst the same people who claim to be Nigerians since after the civil war.
One of Nigeria’s agent of division today is the phenomenon of ‘State of Origin’. With this phenomenon, one can be a Nigerian citizen and not be a citizen of his state of residence.
Indigenes and non-indigenes in Nigeria are the same people who lay equal claim to Nigeria citizenship and have been engaged in cultural, religious, economic and political exchange for over a long period of time. The so called non-indigenes are part of the society in every aspect, they may speak the same language, worship and trade together. They may even marry the so-called indigenes. But contradiction arise when it comes to sharing of resources which include scholarship, placement of children in schools, employment in the civil service and political appointment. The so-called non-indigenes always falls victims of this discrimination and injustice.
Before a student is considered for admission in any colleges and universities in Nigeria or a person been considered for job, he will be required to provide his citizenship certificate from the local government of his ancestral home and must be signed by the local government chairman to determine which part of Nigeria he belongs to.
It is sad to say that, a Nigerian who move to western countries like the UK and the US etc and become a full citizen after 10 years with all the rights, obligation and privilege of every other citizen of that country; the same Nigerian can live in a part of Nigeria for over 100 years, and even build his house and do business there and yet not even his grandchildren will be considered a citizen of that part of the country.
These so-called indigene and non-indigene syndrome has result to violence in recent times, i.e the Igbos being subject of discrimination in the north and the Hausa/Fulani suffers same in the south. In times of violence, these so-called non indigenes suffered heavy casualities and lost millions of naira worth of properties at the hand of their neighbours who considered themselves as indigenes.
I considered this contradictions of Nigerian states to be blamed for lotss of violence we witness today among Nigerians of different tribes and ethnic groups.
My question is, how can this issue be resolved constitutionally and permanently, what legal instrument can we put in place so that Nigerians will not be considered an alien in any part of this country?
– Alim S. Ubeida
