Classifying Nigerians As Indigenes, Non-Indigenes A Form Of Apartheid — Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says that identifying Nigerians as
‘indigenes’ and ‘non-indigenes’ is a form of ‘apartheid’ and
contradicts the nation’s declared aspirations towards equality and
unity.

This is as he said that despite the activities of “those with
divisive agendas,” Nigeria will prevail over her tribulations due
to the resilience, faith, hope and strength of its people.

Osinbajo said this on Thursday at the National Social Cohesion
Dialogue organised by the Africa Polling Institute, which was held
at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and
Publicity, Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a statement titled
,‘Nigerians are unbreakable, do not hate each other –
Osinbajo’.

Speaking on the need for unity and cohesion, the Vice President
said, “In many quarters, there are feelings of alienation and
exclusion. To this point, we must recognise how we perpetuate
institutional discrimination and cause people to see their
identities as weapons for procuring opportunity, often at the
expense of others.

“We see this whenever Nigerians are denied opportunity based on
their state of origin or because they are ‘non-indigenes.’

“We see it when a Nigerian that has been resident in a state all
his life is suddenly excluded from admission into an educational
institution or an employment opportunity because he is not
considered an ‘indigene.’

According to him, “All Nigerians have a constitutional right to
live, work and enjoy their lives in peace and safety under the law.
The classification of Nigerians as ‘indigenes’ and ‘non-indigenes’
is a form of apartheid and contradicts our declared aspirations
towards equality and unity.

“Our Constitution enjoins the Government to ‘secure full
residence rights for every citizen in all parts of the Federation’
and this is imperative that we must commit to across all tiers of
Government. All that should matter in evaluating ourselves is where
we live and fulfil our civic obligations.

He added that the destinies of Nigerians have become so
interlinked as to be inseparable. This, he said, is why the Buhari
regime is investing heavily in transportation infrastructure―road,
rail, sea and river ports―to reduce the distances between the
people and link localities to markets and enable trade, travel and
tourism.

Describing Nigerians as “an unbreakable people”, the Vice
President emphasised the shared interests of Nigerians across
different facets of life, noting that Nigeria’s diversity can be
used to drive further economic growth.

He explained, “And in the face of the challenges confronting us,
we must remind ourselves that our present challenges are neither
unique nor exceptional. Various nations at various points in their
histories underwent similar tribulations. It is within our power to
address these issues and emerge from them even stronger as a
people.

“Despite the divisive rhetoric of demagogues and the utterances
of those who profit from disharmony, Nigerians do not hate each
other.

“Every day, millions of Nigerians of different ethnicities and
creeds comingle, make common cause and forge friendships across our
fabled fault lines. While we have our share of such acrimony, the
situation does not support the narrative that we are a nation of
fragments condemned to be perpetually at each other’s throats.

“What matters is how committed we are to the constructive
management of diversity and the peaceful resolution of such
conflict. This is where we can and should certainly work much
harder.”

Osinbajo advocated unity despite sundry differences, warning
against “polarising identity politics”.

He said, “the truth is that Nigeria has evolved beyond the sort
of easy balkanization that is proposed by some separatists.
Politicians who continue to traffic in division and discord are
behind the times and have failed to take note of how much more
integrated our society has become.”

He further noted that even as the Federal Government continues
to ramp up efforts in tackling the nation’s security challenges, a
united citizenry would further help, especially in local policing
strategies.

“As we address the challenge of insecurity and the profusion of
threats to public safety, we are increasingly turning to multilevel
policing strategies that are consonant with our federal
architecture,” he said.

“It is important that the localized security mechanisms being
established by subnational authorities are constituted inclusively
and reflect the true diversity of those that live in local
communities. No truly sustainable security umbrella can be built
based on exclusion.”

According to the Vice President, criminal elements should not be
generalized as a representation of ethnic or religious groups.

He noted that “Criminals must not be seen or treated as anything
other than criminals and certainly not as representatives of any
ethnic or religious group. We will not defeat crime by dividing
ourselves. We can only overcome it by uniting against our common
enemy – the criminals who terrorize our people.”

He also highlighted examples of the power of unity over
division, such as 83-year-old Islamic cleric, Abdullahi Abubakar,
who saved the lives of hundreds of Christians from terrorists in
Barkin Ladi, Plateau State in 2018; as well as the reported ethnic
conflict between Hausas and Yorubas in Shasha market, Ibadan, in
2021, where the VP stated that “members of both groups protected
and shielded each other from harm.”

The Vice President commended the Africa Polling Institute for
organising the event, which he noted was a significant work or
social research that will help drive a more informed and
constructive debate about Nigeria’s present and future.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says that identifying Nigerians as
‘indigenes’ and ‘non-indigenes’ is a form of ‘apartheid’ and
contradicts the nation’s declared aspirations towards equality and
unity.

This is as he said that despite the activities of “those with
divisive agendas,” Nigeria will prevail over her tribulations due
to the resilience, faith, hope and strength of its people.

Osinbajo said this on Thursday at the National Social Cohesion
Dialogue organised by the Africa Polling Institute, which was held
at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and
Publicity, Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a statement titled
,‘Nigerians are unbreakable, do not hate each other –
Osinbajo’.

Speaking on the need for unity and cohesion, the Vice President
said, “In many quarters, there are feelings of alienation and
exclusion. To this point, we must recognise how we perpetuate
institutional discrimination and cause people to see their
identities as weapons for procuring opportunity, often at the
expense of others.

“We see this whenever Nigerians are denied opportunity based on
their state of origin or because they are ‘non-indigenes.’

“We see it when a Nigerian that has been resident in a state all
his life is suddenly excluded from admission into an educational
institution or an employment opportunity because he is not
considered an ‘indigene.’

According to him, “All Nigerians have a constitutional right to
live, work and enjoy their lives in peace and safety under the law.
The classification of Nigerians as ‘indigenes’ and ‘non-indigenes’
is a form of apartheid and contradicts our declared aspirations
towards equality and unity.

“Our Constitution enjoins the Government to ‘secure full
residence rights for every citizen in all parts of the Federation’
and this is imperative that we must commit to across all tiers of
Government. All that should matter in evaluating ourselves is where
we live and fulfil our civic obligations.

He added that the destinies of Nigerians have become so
interlinked as to be inseparable. This, he said, is why the Buhari
regime is investing heavily in transportation infrastructure―road,
rail, sea and river ports―to reduce the distances between the
people and link localities to markets and enable trade, travel and
tourism.

Describing Nigerians as “an unbreakable people”, the Vice
President emphasised the shared interests of Nigerians across
different facets of life, noting that Nigeria’s diversity can be
used to drive further economic growth.

He explained, “And in the face of the challenges confronting us,
we must remind ourselves that our present challenges are neither
unique nor exceptional. Various nations at various points in their
histories underwent similar tribulations. It is within our power to
address these issues and emerge from them even stronger as a
people.

“Despite the divisive rhetoric of demagogues and the utterances
of those who profit from disharmony, Nigerians do not hate each
other.

“Every day, millions of Nigerians of different ethnicities and
creeds comingle, make common cause and forge friendships across our
fabled fault lines. While we have our share of such acrimony, the
situation does not support the narrative that we are a nation of
fragments condemned to be perpetually at each other’s throats.

“What matters is how committed we are to the constructive
management of diversity and the peaceful resolution of such
conflict. This is where we can and should certainly work much
harder.”

Osinbajo advocated unity despite sundry differences, warning
against “polarising identity politics”.

He said, “the truth is that Nigeria has evolved beyond the sort
of easy balkanization that is proposed by some separatists.
Politicians who continue to traffic in division and discord are
behind the times and have failed to take note of how much more
integrated our society has become.”

He further noted that even as the Federal Government continues
to ramp up efforts in tackling the nation’s security challenges, a
united citizenry would further help, especially in local policing
strategies.

“As we address the challenge of insecurity and the profusion of
threats to public safety, we are increasingly turning to multilevel
policing strategies that are consonant with our federal
architecture,” he said.

“It is important that the localized security mechanisms being
established by subnational authorities are constituted inclusively
and reflect the true diversity of those that live in local
communities. No truly sustainable security umbrella can be built
based on exclusion.”

According to the Vice President, criminal elements should not be
generalized as a representation of ethnic or religious groups.

He noted that “Criminals must not be seen or treated as anything
other than criminals and certainly not as representatives of any
ethnic or religious group. We will not defeat crime by dividing
ourselves. We can only overcome it by uniting against our common
enemy – the criminals who terrorize our people.”

He also highlighted examples of the power of unity over
division, such as 83-year-old Islamic cleric, Abdullahi Abubakar,
who saved the lives of hundreds of Christians from terrorists in
Barkin Ladi, Plateau State in 2018; as well as the reported ethnic
conflict between Hausas and Yorubas in Shasha market, Ibadan, in
2021, where the VP stated that “members of both groups protected
and shielded each other from harm.”

The Vice President commended the Africa Polling Institute for
organising the event, which he noted was a significant work or
social research that will help drive a more informed and
constructive debate about Nigeria’s present and future.