Atunto Foundation, a Yoruba Socio-Cultural Organization, leading the advocacy for a return to regionalism and an inclusive Nigerian federation has strongly cautioned against any move by the National Assembly to impose an erroneous definition of indigeneship as a standard across Nigeria’s diverse regions.
The Atunto Foundation also cautioned against any move by the National Assembly to impose a standardized definition of indigeneship across Nigeria’s diverse regions.
The group in a press release signed by Adedayo Alao, Elder Banji Ayiloge, Leader, Atunto Homeland, Leader, Atunto Diaspora, Dr. Akin Fapohunda, Dr. D.A. Aremu, Secretary General, Atunto Homeland, and Secretary General, Atunto, Diaspora, warned that such policy would be deeply insensitive and a disregard of the country’s rich cultural diversity and capable to trigger serious socio-political consequences.
The group while making further clarification said to be indigenous means originating or occurring naturally in a particular place, therefore, native, and concerning people, it means people inhabiting or existing in a land from the earliest times or before colonists’ arrival.
The release stated that it is obvious that the sponsor of the bill is confusing indigenship with citizenship, adding that returning to the regional system of government, which was negotiated by the indigenous ethnic constituents of Nigeria would take care of this matter at that level.
“This should not be the central government’s responsibility, indigeneship is not merely a legal or administrative classification, it is a cultural, ancestral, and communal identity,” said the spokesperson for Atunto Foundation.
It added that any attempt to centralize and impose a uniform definition of who qualifies as an indigene undermines the local identity, historical and cultural foundations of our various communities.”
“With over 250 indigenous ethnic groups, each possessing distinct histories and traditions, Nigeria’s heterogeneity makes a one-size-fits-all approach both impractical and dangerous, while, Indigeneity, often shaped by unwritten customs and deep-rooted historical ties, cannot be legislated from Abuja without triggering resistance.
“Even if laws were enacted to enforce a uniform national standard for indigeneity, enforcement would likely be undermined by local resistance and non-compliance. This will exacerbate ethnic tensions, and fuel perceptions of cultural domination and settler colonialism.
According to the release, there are normally four tiers of identity framework known in the world: Visitors, Permanent Residents, Citizens and indigenes. A visitor who meets certain criteria can become a permanent resident, while a permanent resident may become a citizen after meeting specific conditions, but indigeneship is restricted to people with ancestral, cultural, historical roots to the soil.
“Rather than resort to uniform legislation from Abuja, Atunto Foundation calls for a decentralized and culturally sensitive approach. Each indigenous ethnic nationality, region, or federating unit, in consultation with its traditional institutions and civil society, should be empowered to define the terms of the identity framework within its territory/region. This approach aligns with the principles of cooperative true federalism, where local autonomy is respected while national cohesion is fostered through mutual respect and negotiated coexistence.
The Atunto Foundation emphasized that it fully support inclusivity and national unity,, adding that true unity cannot be achieved by force or through the erasure of cultural distinctions.
“It must be built on respect for the identities, culture, and histories of the people, and rights of all Nigerians, just as the Atunto Foundatiion reaffirms its commitment to a Nigeria where unity is rooted in justice, autonomy, and mutual respect—not artificial uniformity.
