Beyond The Jos North Debate: If We Belong Enough To Build Plateau, Why Don’t We Belong Enough To Be Recognised? By JASAWA TIMES Opinion Des

Beyond The Jos North Debate: If We Belong Enough To Build Plateau, Why Don’t We Belong Enough To Be Recognised? By JASAWA TIMES Opinion Desk The ongoing debate surrounding indigeneship and the status of Hausa communities in Jos North is once again forcing Plateau State to confront difficult questions that have remained unresolved for decades. Across social media, courtrooms, and political spaces, arguments continue over who truly belongs, who qualifies as an indigene, and who should have access to recognition under the system that governs identity in Nigeria. But perhaps there is a question many people are deliberately avoiding. If Hausa communities are not considered part of Plateau enough to be recognised, why are they considered important enough whenever elections approach?

This is a question worth serious reflection. For decades, political actors across Plateau State have consistently sought the support of Hausa communities during elections. Political alliances are built. Campaign promises are made. Communities are mobilised. Votes are counted. Negotiations happen behind closed doors. At those moments, nobody questions whether Hausa communities belong enough to participate in determining the political future of Plateau State. Yet once elections are over, the same conversation about belonging suddenly changes. This contradiction is impossible to ignore. Beyond politics, Hausa communities have played a significant role in the economic life of Plateau State for generations. From major commercial activities in Jos and surrounding communities, to taxation, transportation, market development, agriculture, livestock trade, and countless forms of entrepreneurship, these communities have contributed significantly to the economy of the state. Revenue generated from businesses does not discriminate. Development built through commerce does not discriminate. Taxes paid into government systems do not discriminate. So the question becomes simple. If communities contribute to building the economy, sustaining commerce, participating in democratic processes, and helping drive development, should recognition remain permanently denied? This conversation is not about domination. It is not about taking away anyone’s history, culture, or traditional identity. It is about recognition. It is about acknowledging that communities who have lived, worked, invested, and raised generations in Plateau State should not continuously exist in a permanent state of political uncertainty. Nigeria cannot continue asking citizens to contribute fully while denying them a sense of belonging. A society cannot demand loyalty without offering recognition. Plateau State has always been celebrated as a symbol of diversity. Its strength has never come from exclusion. Its strength has always come from the different communities who have helped build it together. The future of Plateau will not be secured by endless arguments over who belongs more. It will be secured when justice, fairness, dialogue, and mutual respect replace suspicion and selective acceptance. If a community is good enough to vote… If a community is good enough to pay taxes… If a community is good enough to contribute to development… Then perhaps it is time Nigeria asks a bigger question. What truly defines belonging? Because recognition should never begin only when politicians need votes. And it should never disappear once elections are over. The conversation in Jos North is no longer just about certificates. It is about fairness. And fairness must apply to everyone.