The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, withdrew his controversial indigeneship bill following condemnation of the bill by the public
What began as a legislative proposal reportedly aimed at liberalising the concept of indigeneship quickly became the subject of intense online backlash, ultimately compelling the sponsors to beat a retreat and some of the listed co-sponsors to denounce it.
Kalu and Ginger Onwusibe, Hon. James Faleke, Blessing Amadi, Regina Akume, Khadija Bukar Ibrahim, and Abdussamad Dasuki, sponsored the bill which sought to amend the Constitution to grant indigene status to Nigerians by birth, continuous residence of not less than ten years, or by marriage.
Those who rejected the bill said the document could deepen ethnic tensions and provoke further societal division in an already sensitive national climate. They expressed concerns that, if passed into law, it could stoke crisis in the country.
The critics faulted the bill on their social media handles calling for its withdrawal.
@EjioforBar said, “The indigeneship bill is another dangerous ploy to change the demography.”
According to @daylearny, “A bill for indigene by residence of at least 10 years, by marriage, and by birth has passed second reading.
“The bill is sponsored by Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu and six others. Lagos is the target! The bill needs to be stopped!”
For CitizenOlu @jagabanolu, “Someone from another ethnic group cannot dictate to 300 ethnic groups… This bill is dead on arrival and will never see the light of day.”
@Spitfyer7 added, “Absolutely… That bill was an invitation to chaos.”
@BusuyiOrisWorks said, “Live somewhere for 10 years and suddenly you’re an indigene? That’s the bill they’re cooking up. Indigenship is a tenancy deal?”
What the bill seeks to amend Section 31 of the Principal Act by inserting new subsections “(2)–(5)”, thus:
“(2) A citizen of Nigeria is an indigene of a State if he:
(a) was born in that state and has lived in the state for a continuous period of at least 10 years; or
(b) was not born in the State but has resided in a Local Government Area of that State for a continuous period of at least 10 years and can provide evidence of tax payment in that State for at least 10 years.
“(3) A person under subsection (2) of this section is entitled to apply to the Local Government Chairman for a certificate of indigeneship of a State.
“(4) A woman who is married to an indigene of a state different from her state of origin for at least five years becomes an indigene of that state and is entitled to all rights and privileges of an indigene of that state in cases of employment, appointment, or election into any political or public office.
“(5) In the case of divorce or death of a spouse, a woman remains an indigene if:
(a) there were children born of the marriage or not; or
(b) she elects to remain an indigene of that State.”
Also, the bill sought to alter Section 318 (1) by substituting the interpretation of “belong to” with “‘Belong to’ or its grammatical expression, when used with reference to a person in a State, refers to a person either of whose parents or any one of whose grandparents was a member of a community indigenous to that State, or the wife or husband of such a person. Such husband or wife shall continue to belong to that state upon dissolution of marriage or death of spouse.”
