The De Renaissance Patriots Foundation has urged the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, to drop the idea of entertaining a new bill seeking to alter existing indigeneship rights as contained in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

It said that doing so might have the potential of inciting ethnic conflict across the country. The appeal was contained in a letter by the media office of the Foundation addressed to the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives from the Lagos State Caucus and South-Western Caucus, titled, “Rejection of the Proposed Federal Bill on Indigenous Rights Due to its Potential to Incite Ethnic Conflict.”

According to the letter, signed by its Alternate Chairman, Board of Trustees, Maj.-Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju (rtd); President, Miftau Bolaji Are, and Secretary-General, Taofeeq Yomi Tokosi, and received by the Office of the Speaker in Abuja on April 7, 2025, the Foundation expressly asked for the Bill to be dropped in the interest of the nation, peace, unity and security of the people.

“We, the undersigned representatives of De-Renaissance Patriots Foundation, a socio-cultural organisation based in Lagos State, write to express our deep concerns regarding the proposed Federal Bill on Indigenous Rights.

“Our organisation is committed to advocating for the rights of Lagos indigenes, particularly in the areas of self-governance and self-determination.

“While we acknowledge the intention of Kalu Okezie in proposing legislation that seeks to grant indigenous rights to individuals who have resided in a particular location for 10 years or have been married to an indigenous person for the same duration, we strongly oppose this bill due to its potentially destabilising consequences.

“This legislation, if passed, could lead to widespread ethnic tensions, communal violence, and conflicts among various groups. The existing legal framework already provides for the recognition and protection of indigenous rights in Nigeria, as enshrined in Sections 13 and 14 of the Constitution and reinforced by the Federal Character Commission Act. The primary objective of the Act is to safeguard the interests of indigenous peoples and ensure equitable representation across the country. Any attempt to redefine indigeneship by conflating it with residency or citizenship would undermine these constitutional protections and exacerbate tensions.

“Furthermore, the Federal Character Commission Act has not been fully implemented, meaning that indigenous communities have yet to fully enjoy their rights. Introducing legislation that dilutes these rights could have serious consequences, including the marginalisation of indigenous groups and increased friction among communities.

“Lagos State, like other indigenous territories, has long maintained a delicate balance of peace and cultural identity. It is imperative that this harmony is preserved, and no policy should be introduced that could undermine the historical and legal rights of its indigenous people.”