Key ethnic groups, including Ohaneze Ndigbo, Afenifere, and the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (ACF), have proposed regionalism and a parliamentary system of government as solutions to Nigeria’s lingering challenges.
Under the aegis of the Rebirth Group (TRG), the organizations also recommended renaming the country United Regions of Nigeria (URN) to reflect the proposed restructuring.
These resolutions were part of a communique issued at the end of a symposium held in Kaduna titled “Envisioning Nigeria’s Future: Addressing the National Question.”
The communique, jointly signed by Comrade Jare Ajayi, Mr. Olaolu Abogunloko, and Mr. DIY Nweze, emphasized the need to reorganize Nigeria into regions for effective governance and equitable resource distribution.
According to the communique, “the regions should be given more powers over their respective affairs. The central government is to concern itself only with issues that the federating units cannot handle. The central government should be smaller and smarter.”
After various speakers spoke on topics such as “Restructuring: Pathways to True Federalism; Economic Restructuring for Sustainable Development, and Unity in Diversity: Building a Cohesive Nigerian Identity, it was unanimously agreed that “the way Nigeria is presently structured and is being run is largely responsible for why the country is not working in the interest of Nigerians.”
At the symposium, which was the second of its kind, participants also clarified that restructuring into regions is not meant to abrogate present states but to make them form “federating units to make the country to be known as United Regions of Nigeria (URN) or any other nomenclature that we find convenient. Each Region is to have its own Constitution and be autonomous. This is to ensure that they are in a proper position to operationalize self-determination. The restructuring must be such that the community, state and local government from where certain resources come should have 70 per cent of the proceeds of the resources while 30 per cent goes to the centre.”
In addition, at the forum, which was chaired by Dr. Bitrus Pogu who Mr. Emmanuel Alamu represented, it was resolved that each region would be equal to the other in status and ranking.
“Efforts should be made to heal the wounds in the country by, for instance, setting up a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission and constitutional roles were advocated for traditional rulers in the country,” the communique added.
Organisations represented at the symposium include Ohaneze Ndigbo, Afenifere, Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Middle Belt Forum, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Socio-Community Youth Association of Nigeria, SCOYAN, Yoruba Referendum, Initiative for a Better and Brighter Nigeria, Kaduna State Chapter, ICATAFA Igbo Community, Kaduna, Yoruba Community, Kaduna, Tarayyar Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri ChristianAssociation in Nigeria and Western Region Organisation, WRO.
Others were Socio-Community Youth Association of Nigeria, SCOYAN, Southern Borno Residents in Kaduna, Yobe Community Residents in Kaduna, Adamawa Community Residents in Kaduna and Taraba Community Residents in Kaduna.