₦airaland Forum

A socio-political group, Think Yoruba First (TYF), has rejected a proposed bill before the House of Representatives that seeks to grant indigene rights to Nigerians who have either resided in a particular place for 10 years or have been married to an indigenous person for the same period.

In a statement signed by its executives—Dr Bukola Adeniji, Mr Kayode Ọlọkọ, Dr Mark Faleye, Engr Kunle Faleti, and Mr Bolarinwa Oladimeji—TYF argued that the bill, sponsored by Hon. Kalu Okezie, would erode the cultural and historical foundations of indigenous peoples across Nigeria and could fuel ethnic tensions, conflicts, and long-term instability.

The group maintained that global best practices do not grant indigenous status based on residency or marriage, citing examples such as Native Americans in the United States, Aboriginals in Australia, and indigenous communities in Canada and New Zealand.

“No serious nation undermines the rights of its indigenous people by arbitrarily granting indigenous status to settlers. Around the world, indigenous identity is tied to ancestry, cultural heritage, and historical connection to the land—not just residency or marriage.

“History has shown that forceful alteration of indigenous identity is a precursor to ethnic violence and civil unrest, especially in multi-ethnic and multi-cultural nations.

“Consider these cases: Rwanda (1994 Genocide)—The manipulation of ethnic identity led to mass violence between the Hutu and Tutsi populations, with devastating consequences. South Sudan Conflict—decades of imposed ethnic integrations contributed to tensions that eventually led to South Sudan’s secession. Yugoslavia (Balkan Wars of the 1990s)—The forced blending of ethnic identities contributed to one of Europe’s most brutal conflicts in the 20th century.

“Nigeria itself has witnessed countless ethnic conflicts due to territorial and indigenous disputes. The crises in Jos, Southern Kaduna, Ife-Modakeke, and Aguleri-Umuleri, as well as the clashes between herders and farmers across the Middle Belt, all stem from disputes over land and identity.

Legalising the erasure of indigenous identity will exacerbate these conflicts, not resolve them,” the statement read.

TYF called on representatives from the South-West, South-South, North-Central, North-East, and North-West regions to oppose the bill in its entirety, emphasising that the protection of indigenous rights is a fundamental responsibility that must not be compromised.

The group urged the National Assembly to focus on ethnolinguistic restructuring, as advocated by Chief Obafemi Awolowo, stating that such an approach would promote peaceful coexistence, economic empowerment, and equitable development for all Nigerians without undermining the historical and cultural integrity of indigenous peoples.

“The indigenous identity of Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities is a sacred heritage that must not be sacrificed on the altar of political expediency. If this bill is allowed to pass, it will set a dangerous precedent that could lead to an irreversible distortion of Nigeria’s ethnic foundations, leading to deeper fragmentation and possible disintegration,” TYF warned.

GeneralPula:
It’s a useless bill to start with..

Instead of that, make we go back to Regionalism… Gaskia

PressMyButton:
https://tribuneonlineng.com/yoruba-group-rejects-bill-granting-indigene-rights-through-residency-marriage/

Mbanda:
I know they will reject it because of Igbos that is living in lagos. Fear anybody that is suffering from Igbo phobia.

Mbanda:
I know they will reject it because of Igbos that is living in lagos. Fear anybody that is suffering from Igbo phobia. Yet this same people are the ones that want to kill Kanu because of "one Nigeria.

Yeye dey smell.

Ttalk:
Nothing like Igbophobia. It is only a fool that will allowed his ancestral land be shared with strangers

PressMyButton:
Now that I am aware that we have baby gorillas in Nigeria, this bill should be used to clean the yansh of baby gorillas, otherwise,we are ready. If this bill should pass, we are very ready for it 100%.
If I resided in the SE for 10 years for instance and I automatically became an indigene of SE, and then I wanted to buy a choice land in the SE and they will be telling me that the land is an ancestral land or community land and cannot be sold to a stranger and then somebody will now take me to one land beside a shrine and ask me to buy it, that's when they will know that I can break bottle on somebody's head. If you are pushing to become an indigene in another man's house, you had better think it twice now. If the bill is passed, we don't want to hear that Fulanis cannot be given free lands for ruga in the SE. Because many Northerners are married to Ibos and have been living in the SE before independence.

TimeManager:
A very senseless and ill-thought out bill. It's going nowhere.



-Kiss the truth!

Ttalk:
The legislator that sponsor the bill has no shame

What the bill is proposing is that a Shekau can become Obi of Onitsha

DeepSight:
Our people are funny. We will resist this and yet get the citizenship of other countries by a similar process - and even go on to hold political offices there. May heaven help the blackman.

JAWBONE:


Ronu group una no go calm down.

Na Lagos make una body dey hot like this

iLoveYouToo:
Same people will live in Europe and Americas and seek naturalization. We’re the dark continent for a reason.

Sometimes I wonder what this our foolishness really helped us to achieve

OBIDIENTNAIJA:
Why are they scared. Dem dey fear say Lagos might be taken away f om them. I think that's the reason. Nothing anybody fit tell me

Mbanda:
I know they will reject it because of Igbos that is living in lagos. Fear anybody that is suffering from Igbo phobia. Yet this same people are the ones that want to kill Kanu because of "one Nigeria.

Yeye dey smell.