Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, has warned Nigeria’s political class against abandoning governance in pursuit of early political alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that such actions could worsen the country’s economic and social crises.
Speaking during the Ofala Festival 2025 in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Friday, the monarch noted that political attention across the country had already shifted towards 2027, as millions of Nigerians continue to face hunger, poverty and insecurity.
“The attention of the political class has literally been diverted towards the 2027 general election. New alliances are being forged as political fortunes rise and fall.
“There is a clear impression that these efforts are largely for the self-preservation and material benefit of those involved in the game,” Achebe said.
He expressed concern that ordinary Nigerians were paying the price for negligence as hardships deepen across the country despite ongoing economic reforms.
“Our poverty rate has increased from 40 percent in 2018 to 46 percent in 2023, which translates to about 104 million Nigerians now classified as poor,” he said, citing the latest World Bank Development Report on Nigeria.
Achebe noted that the situation was worsened by skyrocketing costs of food, transportation, rent and medicine, compounded by insecurity and violence that have paralyzed agricultural production in several parts of the country.
“The reality on the ground is terrible,” the monarch said, adding: “The endless violence in most parts of the country continues to affect the agricultural sector very seriously.”
While acknowledging that the federal government was implementing “laudable macroeconomic stabilization measures,” Obi urged authorities to adopt transparent and corruption-free approaches in distributing palliatives to the most vulnerable citizens.
“The government must ensure that relief materials and support reach the intended beneficiaries directly, without being sidelined by bureaucracy or corruption,” he warned.
Turning to the South East, the monarch expressed deep concern over continued insecurity and its economic impact on the region, citing the recent condemnation of Finland-based separatist agitator Simon Ekpa as a possible turning point.
“The scourge of violence and kidnapping in the Southeast continues to mutate in different ways. We pray that the recent conviction in Finland of Simon Ekpa will contribute to the overall reduction of violent crime in the region,” he said.
Achebe cited an SBM Intelligence report titled “Four Years of Disruption”, which estimated that the South East economy had lost around £7.6 trillion since 2021 due to insecurity and disruptions from stay-at-home orders.
“This is the time for deep reflection among the Ndigbo. Nigeria and the world are leaving us behind due to the deliberate actions of some purveyors of violence among us,” he warned.
In the upcoming Anambra off-cycle gubernatorial election scheduled for next month, the monarch called for peace, transparency and voter participation, lamenting the apathy shown by residents of the South East in the ongoing voter registration exercises.
“In the first week of the INEC registration exercise, only 2,482 people pre-registered online in four south-eastern states, excluding Anambra, compared to 848,359 in the south-west. This is alarming and calls for urgent mobilization by our leaders,” he said.
Despite the somber national mood, the Ofala Festival 2025 retained its traditional splendor, with dignitaries, traditional rulers and visitors from within and outside the country in attendance.
Celebrating his 24th Ofala celebration since ascending to the throne of Ezechima in 2002, Achebe urged Nigerians to remain resilient and united.
“Our theme last year was ‘Better. Stronger. Together’. It was a call to our people to consolidate our advances and galvanize ourselves for future challenges. That message remains more relevant today than ever,” said the monarch.
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