Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has advocated for a review of the indigeneship clause in the proposed amendment of the 1999 constitution. This, he said, is to accord priority on residency.
The governor said this will give ample opportunities for non-natives residing outside their states of origin the right to contribute their quotas to the running of the state’s affairs.
Ganduje, who spoke at the Second Kano Interfaith and Community Relations Conference for Peace and Sustainable Development yesterday, said the government is advocating for the removal of the indigeneship clause, and for it to be replaced with residency.
He said: “Here in Kano, everybody is an indigene. Once you pay your tax, pay your house tax, what you consume and whatever you buy, your vehicle, then you are automatically a citizen because you contribute to the socio-economic development of that place, you contribute to the peace of that place.
“So, according to our memo to the National Assembly, the issue if indigeneship should be removed from the constitution and re-qualified, so that those staying in various places and contributing to the socio-economic development of those areas would be regarded as indigenes of those areas.”
Ganduje explained that the purpose of the conference is to strengthen and improve the relationship between Muslims and Christians, which he stressed must be a very honest and sincere relationship; a relationship in love, appreciation and for peaceful co-existence.
“Not only that, even the communities in Kano, various ethnic nationalities in Kano, whether Muslims or Christians, we want to live in peace. We appreciate you all because you contribute to the socio-economic development of Kano State.
“We are all creatures of God; if Allah wanted all of us to be Muslims in the degree of faith, we would be. If God wanted all of us to be Christians, we would be. But God created us in different tribes, races, nationalities, men and women. So, if that is the case, it is God Almighty, who said we must stay together, we must co-exist. So, why are we deviating from the word of God?”