We unequivocally support the decision of the Federal Government to outlaw plans by some governors to register non-indigenes resident in their states. Although the controversial registration schemes that would have involved issuance of Identity Cards are an apparent bid to improve security and protect indigenes of the affected states from the onslaught of the Boko Haram sect that is ravaging the country, the idea of segregating and classifying any group of bonafide Nigerians living in states other than their own as non-indigenes, is offensive.
The policy, that would have compelled such non-indigenes to carry identity cards as practiced under the obnoxious but now defunct apartheid regime in South Africa, should not be tolerated in the country. Forced registration of non-indigenes by states will encourage the already increasing stereotyping of Nigerians living outside their geo-political zones in the country. The mass hysteria that such registrations would engender can only undermine unity and cohesion in the country. It is, however, good that the state government that was reported to be planning the contentious registration of northerners in the country has denied it, following the outcry it generated, and the threat by other interests in northern Nigeria to not only reciprocate the unfriendly gesture, but also threaten the investment of Southerners in their own part of the country.
Nigeria, it must be stated, must do everything possible to avoid negative profiling of people from different parts of the country. It is in this regard that we welcome the decision of the National Security Council (NSC) to stop state governments from either registering or deporting Nigerian citizens under any circumstances. This decision is long overdue. The sensational deportation of destitute non-indigenes to Eastern Nigeria by the Lagos State Government, and the less publicized one in Oyo State, are a national embarrassment.
It was, indeed, appropriate that the Lagos State Government apologised for the mistake. The idea of discriminatory treatment of Nigerian citizens by various states ought to have long disappeared, after 100 years of Nigeria’s existence as a single country. That Nigerians are profiled negatively and discriminated against on the basis of non-indigeneship remains one of the dark spots in our history that ought to be removed in this 100th year.
We, therefore, call on the National Assembly to enact a law to remove any shadow of doubt that Nigerians have the right to live and enjoy all citizenship rights and privileges in whatever part of the country that they choose to live. In addition, they must not be subjected to any form of discrimination with regard to residential benefits. As long as any Nigerian resides in and pays his taxes in a state, he must be entitled to all the benefits of residency without limitations, irrespective of state of origin.
Nigerians should be able to feel safe anywhere they are in the country. It is that simple.
The idea of a resident permit for a Nigerian of whatever state living in Kaduna State is preposterous, outlandish and embarrassing. All over the world, resident permits are demanded of non-citizens and “aliens”. And, if some state governments now demand resident permits from Nigerians from other states, what is the guarantee that they will not later be asked to procure passports or visas to enter such states?
The Nigerian Constitution is the nation’s binding document. It, amongst others, proclaims our freedoms, equality, rights and privileges. Any measures that derogate from its provisions are bound to be problematic and any state policy that infringes on the rights it grants must be ruled illegal.
Willful disengagement of civil servants for the reason that they are not originally from a particular state; the denial of education privileges to so-called non-indigenes; discriminatory school fees for nonindigenes; segregation of places of abode and branding of sections of our cities as places for aliens; and bars on employment of non-indigenes in state civil services do more to deepen our fault lines than eliminate them.
The destructive activities of Boko Haram are more than enough for us to grapple with. They must not be permitted to further divide the county with the idea of registration of people from the parts of the country that are being ravaged by the sect. While the registration of citizens is good for the promotion of security in the country, the general one conducted by the National Population Commission (NPC) and the National Identity Card Scheme should be sufficient for the identification and record keeping of Nigerian citizens.
Governor Okorocha (a-northern-born) started the unhealthy campaign.