-says “It’s a threat to our ancestral heritage”
March 28, 2025
The proposed “Indigene Bill” has ignited a firestorm of opposition among the indigenous people of Abeokuta, who view the legislation as a direct threat to their ancestral heritage, cultural identity, and territorial integrity.
In a strongly worded letter to Hon. Olumide Osoba, representative of Abeokuta North/Obafemi-Owode/Odeda Federal Constituency, Hon. Wale Oyekunle and the indigenous people of Abeokuta has urged Osoba to vehemently oppose the bill, which seeks to replace indigenous rights with a “state of residence” framework.
The people view the legislation as a form of “LAWFARE” – a tactic used to erode the rights of indigenous populations through legal means.
Hon. Olumide Osoba has been urged to vehemently oppose the proposed “Indigene Bill” sponsored by Hon. Kalu.
The letter expresses the unequivocal opposition of the indigenous people of Abeokuta to the bill, which seeks to replace indigenous rights with a “state of residence” framework.
This legislation is seen as an existential threat to their ancestral heritage, cultural identity, and territorial integrity. “Abeokuta, as the ancestral home of the Egba and Yewa people, is not a commodity to be bargained away under the guise of national unity or legal reform,” the letter states.
They argue that this bill mirrors past failures to heed the wisdom of leaders like Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who cautioned against centralized governance and advocated for ethnolinguistic federalism and a constitutional secession clause to protect regional autonomy.
The letter also highlights the ongoing efforts to redraw historical and cultural boundaries, citing deliberate campaigns to claim Anioma, Ikwerre, and Opobo as Igbo territories.
Part of the letter reads, “the Fulani expansion into the Middle Belt and the recent transfer of over 1,000,000 voters into Yoruba Land are seen as tactics that destabilize local demographics and governance”
Hon. Oyekunle and the indigenous people of Abeokuta are urging Hon. Osoba to take immediate action.
“We urge you to vigorously oppose this bill, which undermines indigenous rights and risks dispossessing our people of their heritage,” the letter states.
They also call on Hon. Osoba to champion legislative measures to protect ancestral lands and promote true federalism, as well as advocate for dialogue that centers the voices of indigenous communities in national discourse on identity and belonging.
“We cannot sacrifice our ancestral birthright on the altar of a flawed ‘Nigerian unity.’ The Egba people have defended our homeland for generations, and we trust you to stand with us in this critical moment.” the letter states.
