Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Achebe, has voiced concern about the escalating insecurity and economic hardship facing Nigeria.
During the 2024 Ofala Festival in Onitsha, held on Friday, the first-class monarch reflected on the past year, noting the rising cost of living and the growing uncertainties plaguing the nation. He emphasized that Nigeria’s economic and security situation has worsened under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu, calling for urgent and decisive measures to halt the nation’s decline and prevent further crisis.
Speaking on the theme of the festival, “Courage, Perseverance, and Self-reliance,” Achebe empathized with Nigerians struggling through these tough times and encouraged them to face the challenges with determination.
He said, “Last year, I mentioned the uncertainties that followed the general elections, compounded by ongoing insecurity and the sudden removal of the fuel subsidy. Sadly, the country’s situation has deteriorated further in the last year, with a 10-day national protest in August 2024 tagged ‘#Endbadgovernance.’”
The monarch highlighted the dual impact of economic hardship and insecurity, which he said has resulted in skyrocketing living costs, business closures, job losses, and a general sense of hopelessness among the population. He also raised concerns about the prosecution of protest leaders, who he noted were exercising their constitutional right to voice dissent.
Achebe urged President Tinubu to consider alternative perspectives and called for the convening of a non-partisan national economic and security summit. He stressed the need for collective action to address the growing crises, noting that several voices have warned of impending catastrophe if the government fails to act.
The monarch also pointed to critical issues such as governance downsizing, insecurity, the relationship between agriculture and living costs, and the impact of rising fuel prices on the population. He highlighted the destructive activities of unknown gunmen in the Southeast, lamenting the lack of adequate government response to the violence.
“In the Southeast, we continue to suffer from the attacks of unknown gunmen who kill, kidnap, and extort their fellow Ndigbo. The closure of schools, markets, and public institutions on Mondays has taken a heavy economic toll on the region,” Achebe said.
He concluded by noting the growing security concerns within his community, particularly the increased armed criminal activities in August 2024, and stressed the need for better funding for local vigilante groups.