The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has stepped down the contentious indigeneship bill to allow for broader stakeholder engagement.
In a statement issued on Tuesday night, Kalu explained that the decision followed concerns and feedback from various groups, as well as recommendations from the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS).
The bill, initially aimed at fostering national unity and equal rights for all Nigerians, had proposed that state legislatures enact laws granting settlers the same privileges as indigenes.
However, a review by NILDS highlighted potential complications, including issues of dual or multiple indigeneship.
Kalu, who also chairs the House Committee on Constitutional Review, emphasized his commitment to people-centered legislation.
“As representatives, we are dedicated to ensuring that all legislative proposals align with the people’s aspirations,” he said.
“The Constitution Review process remains open and inclusive, and no provision will advance without broad consensus.”
He urged Nigerians to continue engaging constructively with the committee to build a more united and equitable nation.
Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.
Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.
Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).
He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.
He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.
Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.
