The Emeritus Supreme Head of the Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) Unification Church Worldwide, Dr. Solomon Alao, has issued a stark warning and a detailed roadmap for Nigeria to overcome its escalating security crisis. Speaking at a press conference in Ibadan ahead of the church's 96th Annual General Conference, the revered cleric stated that the nation's persistent violence, banditry, and communal conflicts are symptoms of deep-seated governance failures.
Decentralized Security and Agricultural Safety
Dr. Alao placed a strong emphasis on restructuring the nation's security architecture. His central proposal is the creation of state and local government police forces to work alongside federal agencies. He argued that this decentralized approach would help identify and stop the influx of suspicious elements into local communities, enabling faster intelligence gathering and response at the grassroots level.
Furthermore, he insisted that security leadership must be localized. Commissioners of Police and Divisional Police Officers should be indigenes of the states and communities they serve, as this would foster greater commitment and reduce compromises.
On the farmer-herder crisis, Alao called for the strict enforcement of existing anti-open grazing laws. He warned that the unchecked movement of cattle destroys farmlands, cripples agricultural productivity, and threatens national food security. "Farmers must feel safe to go to their farms," he stated, cautioning that failure to protect rural communities could push Nigeria towards famine.
Political Restructuring and Governance Reforms
The cleric identified Nigeria's political culture as a core driver of instability. He urged the country to eliminate 'godfatherism', which he said promotes incompetence and corruption in leadership selection. To reduce the cost of governance and increase efficiency, he proposed a radical restructuring of the federation.
His model suggests converting the current six geopolitical zones into states, while demoting the existing 36 states to provinces. This, according to him, would streamline administration and eliminate duplicated roles.
Alao also advocated for a significant reduction in the cost of running the National Assembly, including cutting the number of legislators. He stressed that representation should be balanced and efficient, not based on a state's size, and called for more powers to be devolved to sub-national governments to reduce the intense competition for control at the federal center.
A Call for Vigilance and Moral Renewal
With the 2027 general elections on the horizon, Dr. Alao urged Nigerians to be extremely vigilant in choosing their leaders. He cautioned that many politicians are driven solely by the pursuit of power and wealth, not service.
He specifically charged Christians to take a more active role in politics, guided by prayer and a collective search for leaders with integrity, vision, and the fear of God. The cleric concluded that only a combination of moral renewal, bold structural reforms, and responsible leadership can steer Nigeria away from the brink of disaster and onto a path of lasting peace and development.
