Chairman of the Northern Christian Elders Forum (NOCEF) Evang. Matthew Owojaiy has described recent calls by northern governors to deemphasize indigeneship in Plateau state as hypocritical.

The Northern governors had at the end of their meeting in Jos urged the Plateau state government to de-emphasize indigeneship in order to achieve peace and stability in the state.

But Owojaiye, in a statement to news men in Kaduna urged the Plateau state government not to accept such proposals, insisting that some of the northern states, particularly, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Zamfara, Sokoto and Bauchi have no moral justification to make such call.

The statement reads: “We note with joy the advice given to the Plateau state government by the Northern governors at the end of their recent meeting in Jos, that the government of Plateau state should de-emphasis indigeneship so that there would be peace in state.

“They quoted the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to buttress their point. We urged the Plateau state government not to sign such a document until all the states in the North signs it and practice it, particularly  states like Kano, Bauchi, Katsina, Sokoto, Jigawa and Zamfara which are noted for discrimination against non indigenes, particularly Christians  and denying them their fundamental rights as enshrined in the constitution.

“It is not a hidden fact that in these states, the teaching of Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) is prohibited in their public schools. Similarly airing of Christians programmes on their state Radio and Television stations are prohibited including even the federal government owned NTA located in their states.

“The northern state governors ought to have boldly come out to speak the truth to tell the Hausas in Jos to learn to live in peace with the indigenous people. Why are other tribes not fighting the Plateau people? Are the Hausas the only Muslims in Jos? We have Yorubas and other tribes that are Muslims in Jos, why are they not fighting the indigenes?  These are the questions the governors should have asked!

“Everybody knows that indigeneship is promoted in the Nigerian constitution. That is why we have things like quota system and federal character and the Hausa states of Kano, Katsina Jigawa, Sokoto, Zamfara and Bauchi states practice it religiously.

“The question is; can any indigene of Plateau state or any person from Anambra or Ogun state be given the ministerial slot of Kano, Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina , Jigawa, Bauchi or Sokoto? Certainly hell will be let loose if that happens!

“For instance, it is on record that the Hausa settlers in Jos, through the magnanimity of the indigenes have enjoyed unfettered political representation in Jos.  Some of the beneficiaries are Alhaji Ibrahim D. Nakande who was appointed minister on Plateau quota, Alhaji Samaila Mohammed, former Chairman of Jos North Local Government who is currently representing Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Alhaji Ibrahim Baba Hassan, currently Deputy Speaker, Plateau State House of Assembly, Alhaji Yaro Mairake, P.D.P Chairman in Jos North Local government, Alhaji Dankurma, former Chairman, Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board etc.

Even Senator Nasiru Mantu, though not a Hausa/Fulani man, was elected to the senate to represent Plateau Central senatorial zone which is almost 99 percent Christian dominated.

“No any Plateau indigene has ever enjoyed such privilege in any Hausa State no matter how long such a person has lived there.

From these facts, you can see that the Plateau People have favoured the Hausa Fulanis more than any settler tribe in Jos.

“We gathered that during the 2003 general election, one Mr. Osita Obiri won election into Kano State House of Assembly under the platform of P.D.P representing Fagge Constituency, but he was denied the seat because Kano Hausa indigenes protested that he is “arne” (infidel).