Indigeneity Debate: Retired Justice A. M Liman Tackles Ombugadu, Warns Against Discrimination in Nasarawa North
A retired Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice A. M. Liman, has issued a detailed rejoinder to Dr. Frank Peter Ombugadu, criticising his article, “Indigenous Voices, Silenced”, as misleading and divisive.
In the response, Justice Liman described the piece as “a textbook case of mischaracterisation, selective historical amnesia, and the very discrimination it claims to reject,” particularly in the context of ongoing debates over indigeneity in Nasarawa North and the wider middle belt.
The retired jurist emphasised that no one was disputing the cultural heritage and historical roots of ethnic groups such as the Eggon, Mada, Kantana, Arum, Buh and Rindre.
However, he argued that what must be rejected is the use of such heritage to exclude Nigerians who have long been integrated into local communities.
According to him, branding such individuals as “settlers” or “outsiders” based on ancestry or surnames undermines fairness and denies them the right to political participation.
Justice Liman faulted claims that questioning the indigene, settler divide amounts to erasing indigenous identity or promoting assimilation.
He described this as a “gross distortion,” insisting that his earlier position only challenged the notion that eligibility for leadership should be tied to narrow paternal lineage.
He noted that many Nigerians, despite being born, raised, and deeply rooted in communities such as Gudi and Akwanga, are still treated as second-class citizens.
The former Justice also challenged assertions that certain ethnic groups have exclusive ancestral ownership of the land predating the Fulani Jihad of 1804 led by Usman dan Fodio.
He argued that oral traditions and historical accounts indicate that many groups in the region migrated over time, making claims of absolute “first-comer” status untenable.
“The land has always been a crossroads,” he said, warning against what he termed “political mythology designed to exclude others.”
Justice Liman maintained that the indigene–settler dichotomy contradicts provisions of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, particularly Sections 41 and 42, which guarantee freedom of movement, residence and protection from discrimination.
He said the practice has, in effect, turned many Nigerians into “perpetual outsiders” despite their contributions to their communities.
Addressing concerns about representation, he referenced Abdullahi Sule, noting that debates about leadership in Nasarawa State should focus on competence and inclusiveness rather than ethnicity or religion.
He warned that using indigeneity as a political tool could deepen divisions and fuel further ethno-religious tensions in the state.
While acknowledging the importance of cultural identity, Justice Liman cautioned against turning it into a basis for discrimination.
He called for a more inclusive approach that recognises the rights of all Nigerians to live, participate and aspire wherever they reside.
“We can disagree without being disagreeable,” he stated, urging stakeholders to embrace dialogue rooted in fairness and national unity.
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