A new civic platform, the Golden Era Movement (GEM), has been officially unveiled in Ilorin, with its promoters pledging to drive citizen-led advocacy and promote improved governance across Nigeria.
The movement, also known as Force-24, was introduced during an inaugural media parley on Thursday, where its Convener, Dr. Seyi Adigun, represented by Hon. Habeeb Quadri, described GEM as a non-partisan initiative committed to constructive engagement and policy-driven dialogue.
“GEM is not a political party, and we are not aligned to any political interest. We are a movement: open, inclusive, and committed to constructive dialogue, informed discourse, and proactive advocacy for good governance,” Adigun said in his keynote address.
He noted that the initiative was founded on the conviction that Nigeria must work better for its citizens, expressing concern over what he described as widespread public disconnection from governance processes.
“For too long, many Nigerians have felt disconnected from the processes that shape their lives. GEM exists to change that by transforming citizens from passive observers into active participants,” he said.
Adigun emphasized that the movement would engage political actors and institutions through solution-driven advocacy rather than mere criticism.
“Our focus is not criticism for its own sake, but advocacy that leads to measurable improvement in governance outcomes,” he stated, adding that GEM would prioritize policy development, institutional accountability, civic participation, and leadership quality.
Declaring the group’s intent, he said: “GEM is not about noise. It is about impact.”
The convener also warned that Nigeria is at a critical point in its history, alleging that many political actors are more focused on gaining power than delivering people-oriented governance.
“Political parties and actors are mostly interested in ‘capturing’ political power and often have no concrete agenda for citizens-centred governance,” he said. “Nigeria is facing the greatest threat to her existence since the civil war. All hands must be on deck.”
He called on Nigerians across professions and age groups to join the movement and contribute ideas and solutions, while urging the media to play a watchdog role.
“We invite the media to hold us accountable and help amplify solutions that matter,” he added.
Also speaking, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Kwara Force-24, Hon. Abiodun Salaudeen, said the movement envisions a society where every citizen’s voice counts and opportunities are accessible to all.
“Our vision is a united society where every voice matters, opportunities are within reach, and every individual can thrive in a fair and just system,” Salaudeen said.
He added that the group’s mission is to empower citizens through inclusive dialogue, innovative policy development, and grassroots action aimed at social justice, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.
On membership, the group announced that GEM is a national organization open to Nigerians and residents aged 18 and above, regardless of political affiliation or background. It also disclosed plans to launch a digital membership platform in June 2026, targeting two million members within its first year.
The movement said its interventions would focus on advocacy, engagement, empowerment, education, networking, and citizen mobilization as part of efforts to influence governance outcomes nationwide.
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