Paper long abstract:

The contemporary Nigerian state is bedevilled with the plight of the citizenship and

indigeneship question. Dwelling on the theory of social behaviourism as espoused by George

Herbert Mead, this paper attempts to explain coloniality as it influences the citizenship and

indigeneship question in Nigeria. The paper argues that the vertical and horizontal division

of the people, orchestrated by the policies of colonialism, led to the culture and awareness of

the 'self' and 'other'. This 'othering' produced a situation whereby identities are constructed

based on a dual layered perception, contextualizing the notion of citizenship within the

frontline of both citizens and communal natives. The paper further argues that the socio-

political and economic implication of this reality is that it breeds a discriminatory tendency

whereby some individuals are excluded from enjoying full rights and privileges of citizenship

and participation in the society. The paper argues that Colonialism was, and still is an

unending phenomenon as its effect still influences contemporary realities in Nigeria. The

paper provides an analysis of colonialism in Africa, and the impact of colonialism on the

citizenship and indigeneship question in Nigeria. It concludes that while the 'divide and rule'

strategy of colonialism might have shaped contemporary perception of citizenship and

indigeneship question, policy geared at reorientation of the hearts and minds becomes of

immediate importance towards developing values for nation building in a culturally

pluralistic society.