Alma’s personal transformation is echoed in the transformation that his people also underwent. They, too, had been under Noah’s sway, and they, too, had to make major changes to join this new community. Alma reminds them that they also have reasons to regret the reign of an unjust king. Therefore, they should not desire a king, even though Alma is a just man. Alma is thinking not of himself, but of his people in the future.
Zeniff was a reasonably just king, but his son Noah became the model for an unjust king. Alma might be just, but he could not assure that all who followed as king would continue to be just.