Former Nigerian Senator Femi Okurounmu has issued a stark warning, stating that the deep-seated divergence of interests and values among the country's ethnic groups is making peaceful coexistence nearly impossible. The elder statesman and former chairman of the 2014 National Conference advisory committee has dismissed restructuring as a failed concept, calling instead for a negotiated dissolution of the nation.
Irreconcilable Differences at the Core of Crisis
In a strongly-worded statement released on 14 January 2026, titled "For the good of all, it’s time to split up Nigeria," Okurounmu pinpointed the root of the nation's problems. He asserted that Nigeria's escalating insecurity, persistent ethnic conflicts, and stunted development stem from what he termed irreconcilable differences between its constituent nationalities.
The former lawmaker representing Ogun Central specifically highlighted the growing chasm between the Fulani ethnic group and other indigenous nationalities. He argued that this fundamental clash of interests and worldviews has created an environment where living together harmoniously is increasingly unattainable.
A Historic Call for Dissolution, Not Restructuring
Okurounmu, a prominent figure in the Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere, declared that patriotism no longer means insisting on a forced unity. He warned that maintaining the current structure will only aggravate insecurity and hinder development, a trend he claims has persisted since the regional governance system was dismantled in 1966.
He reflected on the widespread past belief in restructuring as a solution but maintained that the very forces preventing unity have also blocked all meaningful reform efforts. Even if such reforms were imposed, he cautioned, they would be temporary and easily overturned.
"It is no longer patriotic to insist on keeping Nigeria as one country," Okurounmu declared.
A Proposal to President Tinubu and the Path Forward
The former senator presented a direct proposal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He urged the President to seize what he described as a historic opportunity to convene a conference of credible leaders from Nigeria's ethnic nationalities. The sole agenda of this conference would be to negotiate a peaceful and managed dissolution of the Nigerian state.
Okurounmu suggested that Nigeria could split into a minimum of two, and potentially as many as six, independent sovereign states. He believes this radical move would secure Tinubu's place in history for bringing lasting peace and justice.
He concluded that a managed separation is the essential tonic needed for peace, justice, and rapid development in the territories. This would allow them to coexist as friendly neighbours, finally unlocking their full potential freed from the constraints of a failed colonial arrangement. Anything short of this, he warned, risks plunging the country into another devastating civil war.
