Obi of Onitsha performing the cultural Ofala dance...Credit: Ikenna Obianeri
The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, has called on President Bola Tinubu to prioritise tackling hunger, unemployment, poor medical services, and insecurity across the country.
The monarch made the call on Friday during the 2026 Ofala Festival held at the Eze Chima Square in Onitsha, Anambra State, adding that economic hardship had deepened since 2025, pushing more Nigerians below the poverty line.
Addressing the gathering on the state of the nation, Achebe urged the people of the South-East to take their civic responsibilities seriously by participating actively in the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on the festival’s theme, ‘Oga n’Iru Deliberate Progress’, he explained that the annual celebration marks more than 500 years of the Onitsha monarchy.
He noted that the theme reflects the values of determination, courage, unity, and self-reliance that sustained the founding fathers of Onitsha during their migration from Ado and Idu and subsequent settlement in their present homeland.
“In my 2024 Ofala address, I remarked that the previous 12 months were marked by uncertainties following the general elections.I noted that the wellbeing of the polity has declined even more steeply in 2014.
“Unfortunately, the hardship has further deepened by 2025, thereby throwing more people below the poverty line. I referred to the World Bank development update on Nigeria that stated that some 104 million people had become classified as poor in 2023.
“The situation was worsened by unending insecurity in most parts of the country. I then called on the Government to make urgent provisions for the poorest in our society.
“On Tuesday, July 28, 2026, the leadership of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria paid a courtesy visit to Mr President and raised the persistent issues of national security and the severe economic plight of the majority of our citizens.
“Unfortunately, some government officials politicised the visit by claiming that the bishops spoke only for their congregation.
“The officials asserted that all was well in the country. But truth be told, the issues raised transcend political, religious, and ethnic partisanship.
“Hunger, unemployment, poor and inaccessible medical services, insecurity, and other inadequate factors of human development are pervading the country. We plead with Mr President to give urgent attention to the dire situation on the ground,” he said.
Speaking on the forthcoming 2027 general elections, the monarch said the people of the South-East could no longer afford to stay away from the electoral process while complaining of marginalisation and inadequate representation.
“I call on the people of the South-East states to shake off their historical apathy towards elections. We cannot stay away from elections and turn around to complain of marginalisation. In democracy, all votes count. Therefore, we must come out and vote for our candidates,” he said.
The celebration brought together traditional institutions, community leaders, dignitaries, and other guests.
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, was also in attendance.