Dr Akin Fapohunda, one of the leaders of The Patriots, has opposed the Citizenship and Indigeneship Bill sponsored by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu.

The bill seeks to grant indigeneship rights to Nigerians who have resided in any part of the country for 10 years or are married to an indigene of the region.

However, Fapohunda believes Nigeria is not one nation, adding that trying to make us one is never going to work.

According to him, "We are multiple nations under one country, and there needs to be differentiation."

Fapohunda, who is the secretary of the Steering Committee of the Eminent Members Forum and secretary general of the Western Region (Atunto) Organisation, a Yoruba Think Tank, said this when he appeared on Arise TV.

This was as he called for the resurrection of the 1963 constitution as a template on how Nigerians will govern themselves.

"It's just a template, and then we know we will now have six geopolitical zones. We won't call them regions. Let these zones be codified into their own laws and the way they want to govern themselves," he said.

He said the template will breed respect for one another as the regions will control their resources.

"Indigeneship is a red herring; it will lead to big problems," he added.

Reacting, X user, @Ugochuksogboo, said, "Nigeria is 'a country of countries'.That's why it's difficult to see a patriotic Nigerian.
What we have are patriotic Igbos, patriotic Yorubas, patriotic Hausas, etc. Lack of common values (e.g value for human life) will continue to be a stumbling block to a united Nigeria."

@casicruise said, "This guy is saying the truth. Nigeria will never work without a regional system of government. Tribalism and religion will never make it work and we have to start facing this reality as soon as possible."

@MosesEdafe26199 said. "Nigeria should be divided into 4 different country believe me it will grow and become wealthy and insecurity-free."

@Okidoki1975, said, "Kalu is being told what to do by his benefactor on that indigene bill. It’s classic higher-level politics. Dem no born Kalu to push this bill without instructions from the top. Its intent is the total divorce of Yorubas from Obidients group. Even diehard Obedient Yoruba’s will think twice before voting Obi after they pretend the bill will pass.

"It definitely won’t pass but it will cause enough stress to keep SW Yoruba obedients from continuing. Without them you can’t win a Lagos, or make inroads into the SW like Obi did. Tinubu is prepared. The man is playing chess, while the opposition is playing draft. They need to wake up ASAP."

ASA