Who is a Lagosian? [ ON RELATIVE RIGHTS OF INDIGENES AND IMMIGRANTS FROM INSIDE NIGERIA]
toyin adepoju
Another approach to the same question- Allwell Okpi's "Who is a Lagosian?:Virtually everyone in Lagos regards themselves as a Lagosian but none is able to define who a Lagosian is".( 2010)
The contributions to which this post is responding are posted below this mail
A significant number of Nigerians are thick with primitive tribal celebration, from some Binis who champion myopic views on relations between Binis and non Binis by trying to address perceived Bini marginalisation in institutions in Benin not by insisting on transparency and rigour in institutional processes but simply on appointing a Bini person to head these institutions, some of these ethnic celebrators becoming vicious when those views are challenged, to some Yorubas who think that only Yorubas can be informed about Yoruba civilisation, and develop inablity to think clearly on the relevant issues, even as their knowledge of Yoruba civilisation is obviously based more on accidental, ill digested and incomplete knowedge than anything else, to the horrors of Jos where the indigene/settler dichotomy is at the heart of regular killing of scores of people, and those people in Northern Nigeria who stoned the President's convoy.
Its so horrible.
The fallout of the artificial creation of the country in which various ethnicities were yoked togethjer by force. But why are the politicians able to benefit themselves and each other within this artificial country while Nigerians continue to argue over ethnicity while feeding on crumbs from the tables of these politicians who are united in depriving Nigerians, with limited exceptions to this deprivation?
Its actually on these online fora I encouetred vicious tribal sentiments in action for the first time, not in all the years I lived in Nigeria, most of them in Benin, but also in Port Harcourt, Auchi, Lagos, Ughelli and Sabongida-Ora, with vists to other places. Some of the worst tribal foaming-at-the-mouth characters on these fora are people who dont even live in Nigeria. People who are well ensconced in the comfort of the West, people who are comfortable there beceause relatively open societies have been allowed to grow in those places since the primitive attitudes these Nigerians in exile counsel for their own people back home have been significatly defeated in the countries that give them refuge.
A recent manifestation of this sad mentality is the demand that a Yewa Awori must be governor of Ogun Sate. They are not forcefully demanding water, electricity, good roads. They just want a Yewa Awori to rule. As far as they are concerned, the indices of a modern civilised life are secondary to such a demand.
A valid answer to this confusion is to insist on improving the processes of institutions to produce the best candidates and ensure progress. Not to focus on ethnic selection. How far has ethnic selection taken Nigeria?
As for Nigerians abroad, some of the most vocal on these fora lack vision to transcend the ethnic rifts that define aspects of life in Nigeria even though their settling in the more civilised West gives them a chance to do so. In the era of the Jos horrors linked to the settler/indigene dichotomy, Adeniba Adepoyigi, who proudly describes himself as living in Australia, is arguing for so called indigene dominance in Lagos and stating that immigrants are liable at any time to having their citizenship withdrawn by so called indigenes.Chief Gemologist, a hard core chauvinistic Yoruba celebrator, descends even further into using the Yoruba denigrative reference to non Yorubas as yanmirin, excluding those who dont read in Yoruba by writing in Yoruba, in a discussion in English by people of different ethnicities in an argument on inter-ethnic relations involving Yorubas and non Yorubas, seeking thereby to create a sense of clannish identification.He adds that thugs-meaning Igbos-should be deported to the East. The older generation, a lot of the time, has failed Nigerians.
Meanwhile, Adeniba seems unaware of the contradiction of his presence in Australia, contradictions that demonstrate powerfully the limitations and perhaps shallowness of his argument. He shares the same skin colour with the Australian Aborigines, whose land was stolen by Caucasian immigrants amd the Aborigines relegated to second class status. The Australian Aboringines share the same fate as the Native Americans displaced by the Caucasian immigrants.In both cases, immigrants displaced the original owners of the land. Some historians describe the Brahmins in India as immigrants who proceeded to subjugate the indigenous people. So, the following argument from Adeniba is false and ingores global hisory,including the history of Australia, the country where Adeniba is living:
"Yes, the Nigerian Constitution confers rights and privileges on Nigerians but those rights and privileges, in reference to land rights, will never be equal to the rights of the owners of a land or territory. That is the issue. There is no where in the world in which such rights are equal"
To adapt Joe Ikunna , if we were to examine the contributions of non-Yorubas to Lagos we could see that without them Lagos would cease to be Lagos, the economic centre of Nigeria and its principal gateway to the world.
In contrast to this chest beating on indigene rights over those of settlers or immigrants, I understand that in Canada a person who was not born there can become Prime Minister. Is that true?
If it is true, it would demonstrate another example of moving forward from base tribal sentiments. I seem to have read Obama is a child born to parents who were committing a crime against US law by conceiving him. Their crime-the cohabiting of a Black man and a Caucasian woman. But today he is US President.
Nigerians should develop forward moving vision. Not continue to entrench and consolidate the old ideas that are not working for us.
Like US has made sigficant progress in, full rights, including rights to enter any elective office, should be granted anyone who lives for a certain length of time in any place.Such measures will help to break the stranglehold of those members of the Nigerian political class who rely on ethnicity as one of their weapons.
We need a way out of this situation in which even drinking water or electricity are not certain and yet people insist on rights of indigenes as opposed to those immigrants, and immigrants from within their own country for that matter, within a colony made up of exploited people, from North and South.
By the way, the article was not written by Topcrest but by Ijeoma Nwogwugwu
thanks
Toyin
Adeniba,
I have the notion that your views especially on religion and contemporary matters bedevelling Nigeria are always above board.
However, your discussion on indigeneship of Lagos is not in consonant with your previous ratings. Having served my NYSC tutelage in Lagos many years ago, and spent a whole year within the metropolis, except on one ocassion when I had to be absent for four days in order to attend my University's graduation ceremony (for which I duly got permission from the state NYSC Directorate), I believed then I had met the requirement of full citezenship of Lagos State, also testified by my NYSC discharge certficate. During my one year stay, I was able learn few Yoruba words which enabled me to find my way through the thicks of Ajegunle, Mushin, Yaba and even traverse the famous Ojuelegba junction, mentioned by late Fela Anikulapo Kuti in his famous song-yellow fever. Now, your unexpecet view on citizenship of Lagos state would appear to be an attempt to stample on my rights and deny me the privileges conferred on me by the latter, through my one year compulsory service in the state. I therefore have no option, but to be disposed to resisting your unsolicited, unwelcome view on the matter and accordingly, I do so.
Malam Wane--On Wed, Mar 16, 2011 at 7:27 AM, Adeniba Adepoyigi <adenibaa...@yahoo.com.au> wrote:
"There is no "natural indigene" of Lagos. Lagos is a Nigerian cosmopolis.- by Obi NwakanmaLagos is only a city in a 'territory' or land and as far as I know that territory or land was never proclaimed a 'terra nullius'. Yes, the Nigerian Constitution confers rights and privileges on Nigerians but those rights and privileges, in reference to land rights, will never be equal to the rights of the owners of a land or territory. That is the issue. There is no where in the world in which such rights are equal. If the Federal Government has a piece of land or territory, either by purchasing or forcibly acquiring it, then one could say all Nigerians have equal rights in respect of that land or territory. Apart from this, owners of a land or territory always have priority over 'settlers', arrivals, or visitors.Adeniba AdepoyigiAustralia
From: Rex Marinus <rexma...@hotmail.com>
To: naijao...@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, 16 March, 2011 2:49:18 PM
Subject: RE: ||NaijaObserver|| Re: [OmoOdua] Who is a Lagosian?
"'naturalised' citizenship is often a privilege that can be withdrawn and this can take place irrespective of the generation of 'naturalised' citizenship."
-Adepoyigi
Any Nigerian, born within the legitimate boundaries of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, whose forebears were born within the legitimate boundaries of that Federation is an indigene of Nigeria, and therefore of Lagos. According to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, such a person is a Nigerian and has rights, privileges, and obligations pertaining to those rights anywhere they may choose to reside within that federation. There is no "natural indigene" of Lagos. Lagos is a Nigerian cosmopolis. Every natural born Nigerian who decides to reside in Lagos either by recent settlement or by long tenancy is a Lagosian. The rights of Nigerian citizenship confers equal status. The talk about a "naturalized" Lagosian and an "indigenous Lagosian" is fraudulent and of no value, particularly because, there is no one today living in Lagos whose forebear is not an immigrant to Lagos. I'd like to see one. Indeed, over time, as Nigerians begin to establish and claim their due rights, any form of discrimination based on ethnicity, religion, impairment, etc would be actionable, especially as we move to enact the equal protection laws under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and create enforcement capabilities. The old Igbo Lagosian originally from Anambra state has no greater or lower rights in Lagos than the recent immigrant Yoruba from Ekiti or Ondo or vice versa for example. An Indian, or German, or American or Italian, or Chadian or Senegalese can be a "naturalized" citizen of Nigeria and of Lagos, but not a native-born Nigerian. Every Nigerian is indigenous to Nigeria on any soil or piece of yarddage under the Nigerian sun. Get real.
Obi Nwakanma
_____________________ "If I don't learn to shut my mouth I'll soon go to hell, I, Okigbo, town-crier, together with my iron bell." --Christopher Okigbo
To: Omo...@yahoogroups.com; NaijaP...@yahoogroups.com; NIgerianW...@yahoogroups.com; NaijaO...@yahoogroups.com; igbowor...@yahoogroups.com
From: adenibaa...@yahoo.com.au
Date: Tue, 15 Mar 2011 18:56:55 -0700
Subject: ||NaijaObserver|| Re: [OmoOdua] Who is a Lagosian?
"It is we the migrants from all the towns and villages that have made up Nigeria, who have made Lagos our home, that have given it its soul" - by topcrest topcrestThe fact that you have admitted the immigrant status of those who come from other places to live in Lagos shows those people are only 'naturalised' citizens of Lagos. There is a huge difference between 'naturalised' citizenship and indigenous citizenship wherever you go in the world. Contrary to what many people think, the two classes of citizenship don't always enjoy equal rights. The 'naturalised' citizenship is often a privilege that can be withdrawn and this can take place irrespective of the generation of 'naturalised' citizenship. It seems this is an intrinsic element of the nature of humans as territorial animals because they often expell or even kill non-indigenous citizens in their territories. That is why the onus is always on those enjoying the privilege of 'naturalised' citizenship to be 'good' citizens and more importantly, accept and accord respect to the priority of indigenous citizenship.Adeniba AdepoyigiAustralia
From: topcrest topcrest <topc...@yahoo.com>
To: NaijaP...@yahoogroups.com; NIgerianW...@yahoogroups.com; NaijaO...@yahoogroups.com; IGBO WORLD FORUM IGBO WORLD FORUM <igbowor...@yahoogroups.com>; OmoOdua <Omo...@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wed, 16 March, 2011 5:18:41 AM
Subject: [OmoOdua] Who is a Lagosian?
Who is a Lagosian?
Ihave been rather crudely informed that I am not a Lagosian. This was brought to my attention by a friend of mine who knows my capacity to completely blank out matters I consider irksome. He knows that I have this terrible habit of avoiding, or better put, ignoring anything capable of really riling me up. Yet, he couldn’t help himself when he read the series of rejoinders and internet blogs to my article, Tinubu’s God Complex, published two Monday’s ago.
In some of the articles and blogs, he informed me that I had been reminded that I am not a Lagosian, was from the southeast, and therefore should go back to my state of origin to critique the governors who have made the region insecure. We both laughed at the level of ignorance projected by the writers and at the same time wondered why people that are seemingly educated still stuck in a time warp.
Well, if these writers must know, their principal, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State, whom I presume they defended so glowingly, is not more Lagosian than I am, nor the next person standing next to him. The fact that he bears a Yoruba name and I an Igbo name, does not make him or the writers, whom I presume again are of Yoruba ethnic stock, more Lagosian than I am. Neither are they any less Lagosian than I am.
If they must know, I have lived in Lagos from my childhood. The first eight years of my life were spent on sojourns with my parents as they got their university education outside this country and went in search of greener pastures. Unlike some people, I did not relocate to Lagos as an adult. I happen to belong to the breed of Nigerians of different ethnic stock, but consider no where else but this city-state our home. Just like Tinubu, whose parents are not of Lagos origin, I intend to live here to dotage, die here, and be buried here.
If truth be told, if all of us from different parts of the country had to vacate Lagos for the sons of the soil, the state will be vacuous. Those originally from this state don’t account for more 10 percent of the population resident in Lagos. It is we the migrants from all the towns and villages that make up Nigeria, who have made Lagos our home, that have given it its soul. We also have the same rights as any claimant over Lagos. So those that have an issue with the bare facts, should go jump in the lagoon and leave this city, our home, for us.
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Best Regards
S. Mstf
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