The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma, has faced heavy backlash after backing a bill that would grant the rights of an indigene to any Nigerian who has lived in any part of the country for more than 10 years.

Uzodimma gave backing to the bill while speaking at the South East, Centre B, Public Hearing (Imo & Abia States) of the Review of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, held at the Eze Imo Palace Auditorium, Owerri.

The bill is being pushed by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, who represents Bende federal constituency in the Southeastern region.

He said, "I also advocated for a reinstatement of a vital democratic tradition, one practised in our early Republics, whereby any Nigerian born in a State or who has lived there for over ten years, with good conduct, should be granted indigene status and its attendant benefits."

However, his post on X was met with harsh criticism of the move, with many describing it as an expansionist agenda that would lead to disaster.

@YeyeOba001 said, "Sorry to say. This right here is absolute bullshit. Your tribe is the only one out of 250+ tribes in this country advocating for such. And 95% of your people are not even accommodating. Be content with what you have. How can you want to claim indigene to a land and people you share no lineage or historical connection with? This is BS. Dead on arrival."

@OlaposiMoses said, "Oloju kokoro. Imagine this level of covetousness. I dont care if you have an additional of 20 more states, but which one is to become indigenes in other people land after a few years. The place you can not even speak their language smoothly. You want to go to another place to enjoy what their forefathers work for."

@Abills said, "No non-Yoruba person will be granted indigenous status in Yoruba land, even if you have lived there for 100 years. The gray area is , it will be easy to be an indigene in Yoruba land and also be an indigene in Igbo land. It will then be easy for you to rob Yoruba people of political representation, for instance, being a senator in Abeokuta and later going back to your ancestral land to be a senator. It is more acceptable if it applies regionally. WE DON'T WANT UNITY. It will always be a phantom unity, a covert means for greedy and unscrupulous individuals to cheat others. We only want and prefer a federation! A federation where we are diverse and yet come together as representatives of every diverse ethnic group to continuously agree on consensus."

@hillcrestfo said, "Any agenda saying that any Nigerian born in a state or who has lived there for over ten years with good conduct should be granted indigene status is an evil agenda. What kind of request is that? Let it die there, please. We aren't Igbo; let everyone maintain their true indigeneity."

@YakubTijani2 said, "I thought only the deputy speaker was on this dance of shame. This is one of the reasons why other Nigerians are wary of Igbo presidency. Your proposals shall never be successful."


@YinkaWorldwide said, "I, as a Yoruba man, will not agree to your attempt to remove the state of origin. YORUBA land must remain indigenous to YORUBA PEOPLE. You can do whatever you want with your land."

ASA