SETTLERS IN THE MIDST IN NIGERIA

BY:
UMMI BUKAR

Nigeria, as a federation consists of people from different ethnic groups, religions and cultures. The 1999 Constitution however guarantees every citizen freedom to live and settle in any part of the country without discrimination. Unfortunately, incidents of marginalization in recent times have risen to unacceptable level among different groups in SOME states of the federation. Those often marginalised against are referred to as either settlers or non indigenes. The distinction between indigenes and non-indigenes is rooted in the desire to preserve the cultural identity of more than two hundred ethnic groups in the country. The issue of indigeneship in Nigeria is not new and it seems Nigerians will never be free from it altogether. It came about during the colonial period as a ploy by the British to divide and rule.
It became politicized after independence and remains a strong political tool in the hands of politicians, to advance their selfish course. The colonial system unwittingly promoted settler communities which led to the development of many towns where today you have the Yorubas, Igbos and Hausas settling in large numbers outside their NATIVE lands. Overtime, they have become indigenized to the extent that some later generations know more about their new abode THAN their ancestral origin. It is COMMENDABLE that some states like Lagos, Sokoto, Kano, Jigawa and Kaduna, have shown good examples BY appointing and electing non-indigenes into their respective public offices to give THE BENEFITING ethnic group a sense of belonging. There are HOWEVER indications that we still have a long way to go before we regard ourselves as truly CITIZENS OF ONE UNITED COUNTRY. Citizenship should take pre-eminence over primordial identities, it is only in that sense that meaningful progress, unity, integration and sustainable development can be achieved.

The subtle adoption and practice of indigeneship constitutes a negation of the concept of citizenship. BECAUSE IT is biologically determined, it automatically discriminates against members of other ethnic groups. No society can develop wholesomely without the infusion of settlers who are unrestricted by societal norms. We can take a cue from developed nations that have progressed rapidly through their culture of assimilation and policy of integration, where appointments are based on merits but development efforts are spread evenly. States in Nigeria must end discrimination against settlers from other parts of the country to prevent violent uprising as witnessed in various parts of the country, in the recent past. Just like citizenship, there should be a constitutional provision in the review exercise for attaining indigeneship through naturalization. Every Nigerian should in all true sense be able to move from his home town to another part of the country in search of greener pasture. In the process, a person is able to contribute immensely to the development of his host community and the country as a whole.

The consequence of a settler status, cannot allow one to aspire to rule in the state or exercise citizenship rights to pensionable employment, the acquisition of landed property or any of the services the state provides for its indigenes like scholarship grants, often denied the settler inspite of his years of residence, payment of taxes and other civic duties which the constitution of the country requires from them. Indigeneship, is something to be cherished, because everybody comes from somewhere but when it becomes the basis through which appointments are given or basic amenities are distributed then it becomes wrong. How do you tell a person that was born and brought up in a place that he is a settler and not entitled to some rights simply because his parents or grandparents moved there centuries ago. Government should ensure that appointments are given on the basis of merit and responsible application of Federal Character. Only then, would the country achieve meaningful and wholesome development.


Civil, political, social and economic rights as well as responsibilities should not be limited to place of birth, language, culture or religion.


Source: recorded live from FRCN daily commentary.