Group Urges national maturity, advocates return to regional structure
The New Nigeria Movers (NNM), a civil advocacy group, has called on Nigerians to embrace political maturity and unity to end the cycle of ethnic violence and killings across the country.
In a statement signed by its President, Comrade Elder Samuel Olaleye, the group condemned what it described as “incessant wastage of human and animal lives,” particularly in states like Benue, Plateau, and Kaduna.
Olaleye urged citizens to reflect on the vision of Nigeria’s founding fathers who, according to him, designed regional governance not as a tool of division, but as a strategy for managing diversity and building national unity.
“Our founding fathers were men of vision and realism. They embraced our differences to build a united nation,” he said. “They established a system that allowed for cultural and economic autonomy while preserving national identity.”
He noted that Nigeria’s current challenges are a result of “turning away from that foundation” and warned that the country is now grappling with the consequences of apathy, bad leadership, and a lack of political will to do what is right.
“We are in a terrifying situation where hostility, hatred, and destruction have become the norm. It’s a wake-up call for our generation to mature politically and take action.”
Olaleye argued that the return to regional governance could help address issues like the recurring farmer-herder conflicts. He pointed to the Fulani herders’ nomadic lifestyle as a key factor often overlooked in the current centralized system of governance.
“Our leaders during the military era did not consider the pastoral nature of the Fulani. That was a serious oversight. Today, we are paying the price with constant clashes over land and resources.”
He further added that the modern Nigerian state structure lacks the flexibility and sensitivity needed to accommodate all ethnic groups fairly and peacefully.
“Growth is expected in any democracy. Since 1999, we’ve had the chance to build unity and progress, but we’ve failed to truly grow in love, justice, and national brotherhood.”
The NNM believes that a re-engineered regional structure would give each part of the country control over its resources and local security, allowing all Nigerians—farmers, herders, traders, and others—to coexist peacefully.
“Let’s build a system where herders can move freely and responsibly, where farmers feel protected, and where communities respect one another,” Olaleye stated. “This is the Nigeria our fathers dreamed of.”
In conclusion, the group said it is committed to promoting national reconciliation and a future built on equity, justice, and shared prosperity.
“May we not miss this opportunity again,” Olaleye said. “Now is the time to return to the values that once held us together and chart a new course for a stronger, united Nigeria.”
