CITIZENSHIP, INDIGENEITY AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN NIGERIA: A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS

This paper examines the impact of the complicated phenomena of citizenship and indigeneity on political participation in Nigeria. The study unravelled the causes of the problem and attempts to consider the extent it has impacted on political participation with the aim of attenuating its negative consequences. Secondary data of examples from Taraba State, Kwara State, Plateau State, among others were utilized to graphically demonstrate the spread. From the literature reviewed and the data collected, an avalanche of the manifestations of political discriminations and denial of political rights such as the right to political representation to non-indigenes, some of whom have lived in their adopted states or communities virtually all their adult lives were discovered. Apart from the dominance of ethically-based political parties by autochthonous groups, the 1999 Constitution has compounded the situation by the usage of emotive phrases such as “home communities ” in defining a citizen. Recommendations were given in order to mitigate the atrocious consequences of these phenomena such as reviewing the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and fully developing the productive forces of the Nigerian economy to increase the opportunities for Nigerian citizens to be productively engaged.