Former Plateau State Governor, Jonah David Jang, has voiced strong opposition to a recent Appeal Court decision that recognizes Hausa residents born and raised in Jos North Local Government Area as indigenes. In a statement released on Saturday, Jang argued that the ruling threatens the cultural identity and indigenous rights of Plateau State’s original inhabitants. He emphasized that indigene certificates are deeply tied to ethnic groups historically recognized as native to the state and should not be awarded based solely on long-term residency.
The court, led by Justice C. Donglong, delivered the judgment last week, declaring that a person of Hausa origin born in Jos North LGA is entitled to indigene status and an indigene certificate. The case was initiated by Fatima Baba Akawu and Baba Alhaji Akawu, who sought recognition for the first claimant despite her Hausa ethnicity. The court addressed four key issues, including whether Akawu’s birth in the area to a father who is a bonafide indigene qualifies her for such status.
Jang described the ruling as having serious implications for the state’s heritage and cautioned that it could permit non-indigenes to claim indigene certificates, thereby altering the existing framework. He stressed that debates over citizenship, residency, and indigeneity have long been central to Plateau’s political and social landscape, and he questioned the court’s haste in resolving a matter that could inflame tensions. According to Jang, preserving the distinction between residents and indigenes is essential to protect the interests, heritage, and political representation of indigenous communities.
While acknowledging that every Nigerian has the constitutional right to live and work anywhere in the country, Jang insisted that this does not automatically confer indigene status, which carries unique cultural and historical weight. He called on policymakers and stakeholders to carefully weigh any changes to indigene certificate policies to avoid unintended consequences. The former governor’s remarks come amid ongoing discussions about identity and belonging in Plateau State, where ethnicity and residency have often been contentious issues.