Authors :
Onuoha, Joachim Chukwuemeka
Volume/Issue :
Volume 8 - 2023, Issue 12 - December
Google Scholar :
http://tinyurl.com/y3h2vfcs
Scribd :
http://tinyurl.com/4xw5c3kk
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10441822
Abstract :
In practical analysis, there are two categories
of Nigerians cum Nigerians, to wit, the indigene and non
indigene Nigerians. The indigenes of a particular locality
are those who can trace their origin to the ancestors of
the locality and they enjoy full citizenship rights therein,
whereas the non-indigenes in the same locality are the
latter-day settlers who are often denied those same rights
irrespective of how long they have lived there.
Invariably, the Nigerian Constitution is at the center of
this citizenship quagmire. The Constitution provides and
guarantees the citizens all the rights and privileges under
the law - and it forbids any form of discrimination
against citizens on ground of place of birth. However, in
another stroke, the same Constitution contains certain
provisions that endorsed indigeneity syndrome and other
forms of discriminatory practices against Nigerian
citizens who are residing in states and localities other
than their ‘own’. Certain policies of the government
institutionalized these discriminatory actions against
non-indigenes such as in political appointments, public
sector employment, scholarship, land ownership and
acquisition, admission into the tertiary institutions,
amongst others. Although, the United Nations has a
convention protecting the rights of indigenous peoples,
there is currently no legislation protecting the rights of
non-indigenes in their places of sojourn in Nigeria.
Conflict is an unpleasant but inevitable byproduct of the
indigene-settler dichotomy, and many of Nigeria's worst
conflicts pit the area's acknowledged ‘original’
inhabitants against the area's ‘later’ settlers. It is
predicated on the above that this article embarked on
the legal appraisal of the indigeneity syndrome and its
implications on the political stability of Nigeria via the
doctrinal system of research methodology. This article
recommended that Nigeria should enact a residency law
cum a residency rights commission that will enthrone
and protect residency rights so that all citizens will enjoy
equal rights irrespective of where they live in the
country.
Keywords :
Constitution, Indigeneity, Citizenship and Political Instability.
In practical analysis, there are two categories
of Nigerians cum Nigerians, to wit, the indigene and non
indigene Nigerians. The indigenes of a particular locality
are those who can trace their origin to the ancestors of
the locality and they enjoy full citizenship rights therein,
whereas the non-indigenes in the same locality are the
latter-day settlers who are often denied those same rights
irrespective of how long they have lived there.
Invariably, the Nigerian Constitution is at the center of
this citizenship quagmire. The Constitution provides and
guarantees the citizens all the rights and privileges under
the law - and it forbids any form of discrimination
against citizens on ground of place of birth. However, in
another stroke, the same Constitution contains certain
provisions that endorsed indigeneity syndrome and other
forms of discriminatory practices against Nigerian
citizens who are residing in states and localities other
than their ‘own’. Certain policies of the government
institutionalized these discriminatory actions against
non-indigenes such as in political appointments, public
sector employment, scholarship, land ownership and
acquisition, admission into the tertiary institutions,
amongst others. Although, the United Nations has a
convention protecting the rights of indigenous peoples,
there is currently no legislation protecting the rights of
non-indigenes in their places of sojourn in Nigeria.
Conflict is an unpleasant but inevitable byproduct of the
indigene-settler dichotomy, and many of Nigeria's worst
conflicts pit the area's acknowledged ‘original’
inhabitants against the area's ‘later’ settlers. It is
predicated on the above that this article embarked on
the legal appraisal of the indigeneity syndrome and its
implications on the political stability of Nigeria via the
doctrinal system of research methodology. This article
recommended that Nigeria should enact a residency law
cum a residency rights commission that will enthrone
and protect residency rights so that all citizens will enjoy
equal rights irrespective of where they live in the
country.
Keywords :
Constitution, Indigeneity, Citizenship and Political Instability.
