Ohaneze Ndigbo, Afenifere, the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (ACF), and other ethnic groups have proposed regionalism and a parliamentary system as the most effective ways to address the country’s various challenges.
These major ethnic groups, under the auspices of the Rebirth Group (TRG), also recommended that the country be renamed the United Regions of Nigeria (URN).
This proposal was outlined in a communiqué issued at the end of a symposium held in Kaduna. Owolabi Oladejo convened the symposium, “Envisioning Nigeria’s Future: Addressing the National Question. ”
According to the communiqué—jointly signed by Comrade Jare Ajayi, Mr. Olaolu Abogunloko, and Mr. DIY Nweze—the groups agreed that the country should be reorganized into regions.
The communiqué stated, “The regions should be granted more powers over their respective affairs. The central government should focus only on issues that the federating units cannot handle. It should be smaller and more efficient.”
After various speakers addressed 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 current structure and governance of Nigeria is largely responsible for why the country is not functioning in the best interest of its citizens.
This symposium, the second of its kind, also clarified that restructuring into regions is not intended to eliminate the current states, but rather to form “federating units” that would make the country known as the United Regions of Nigeria (URN), or any other convenient name. Each region would have its constitution and be autonomous, ensuring that they are positioned to exercise self-determination. The restructuring must allow for 70 percent of resource proceeds to remain within the community, state, or local government where the resources originate, while the remaining 30 percent would go to the central government.
Furthermore, during the forum, chaired by Dr Bitrus Pogu, who was represented by Mr Emmanuel Alamu, it was resolved that each region would have equal status and ranking.
The communiqué also emphasized the need to heal the nation’s wounds by proposing the establishment of a Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commission, and it advocated for constitutional roles for traditional rulers in the country.
Organizations represented at the symposium included Ohaneze Ndigbo, Afenifere, the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, the Middle Belt Forum, the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, the Socio-Community Youth Association of Nigeria (SCOYAN), the Yoruba Referendum Initiative for a Better and Brighter Nigeria (Kaduna State Chapter), the ICATAFA Igbo Community (Kaduna), the Yoruba Community (Kaduna), the Tarayyar Hausa, Fulani and Kanuri Christian Association in Nigeria, and the Western Region Organisation (WRO).
Additional groups included the Southern Borno Residents in Kaduna, Yobe Community Residents in Kaduna, Adamawa Community Residents in Kaduna, and Taraba Community Residents in Kaduna.
