The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe (Agbogidi), has called on President Bola Tinubu to give priority attention to hunger, unemployment, poor and inaccessible medical services, insecurity, and other factors undermining human development across the country.
The monarch made the call on Friday during the 2026 Ofala Festival held at the Eze Chima Square, Onitsha, Anambra State, adding that the hardship in the country has further deepened since 2025, thereby throwing more people below the poverty line.
Addressing the gathering and other personalities 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.
He spoke on the theme of the festival, themed ‘Oga n’Iru — Deliberate Progress’, saying the annual festival marks more than 500 years of the Onitsha monarchy.
He explained that the theme signified a succession of themes reflecting the values that had sustained the Onitsha people through changing social and economic circumstances.
According to the monarch, this year’s theme and previous ones reflected the attributes of the founding fathers of Onitsha, whose migration from the lands of Ado and Idu and subsequent settlement in their present homeland required determination, courage, unity and self-reliance.
He said, “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 pushing 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, 28 July 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 severe economic plight of the majority of our citizens. Unfortunately, some Government officials politicized 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 such other inadequate factors of human development are pervading in the country. We plead with Mr President to give urgent attention to the dire situation on the ground.”
Speaking on the forthcoming 2027 general elections, the monarch said the people of the South-East can no longer afford to stay away from the electoral process while complaining about marginalisation and inadequate representation.
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure free, fair and credible elections, stressing that the integrity of the electoral process was essential to strengthening public confidence in democracy.
Reflecting on governance, economic welfare and general well-being of the people, the monarch posited that the wellbeing of Nigerians had deteriorated further since 2025, with more people pushed below the poverty line.
“Still on the national elections, 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.
“The national elections are barely three months away. Expectedly, the attention of the political class has increasingly turned to political positioning, and away from governance.
“Democratic elections are opportunities for the electorate to select the candidates that would deliver the best governance. Also, the political parties must abhor violence and engage in healthy, issues-based campaigns to enable the electorate to make the right choices.
“Except for the reports of violence and intimidation, the recent off-cycle governorship election in Osun State demonstrated robust campaigning, massive turnout by voters, and a reasonable performance by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“The election has become a marker for the coming national elections, and all eyes are on INEC to deliver free and fair outcomes,” he added.
The celebration brought together traditional institutions, community leaders, dignitaries and other guests.
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, was also at the event.