By Okey Maduforo Awka.
Obi of Onitsha Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe (Agbogidi) has lamented the high level of poverty and hardship across the NIgerian Nation insisting that the reality on ground is is very dire .
Agbogidi further dismissed the on going political alliances by politicians ahead of the 2027 general election as not in the interest of the common masses but a selfish ambition of the gladiators.
Loading ...Achebe who in his address marking the 24th Ofala Onitsha festival at Ime- Obi Onitsha on Friday also lamented the unending insecurity in the country stating that the respective leaderships in Nigeria should intensity efforts in check mating the avalanche of violence in the area.
This year’s Ofala festival has as it’s theme ; Njiko na Ntachi ; meaning, Unity and Perseverance , according to Achebe is guided by the prevailing hardship in the country emphasizing the need for empathy and encourage the people to wade through these hards time I their attitudes, determination and actions.
“According to the latest Would Bank development update on Nigeria , our poverty rate has risen from 40 percent in 2018 to 60 percent in 2023 , that is from 79 million to 104 million people being classified as poor ”
“The reality on the ground is very dire , particularly with regards to basic essentials , such as food , medication, transportation and house rent”
“The situation is worsened by unending violence in most parts of the country which affects the agricultural sector very seriously ”
“Whilst it is pursuing Lauderdale macroeconomic stabilization measures , we call on the government to make urgent provisions for the poorest in the population and provide palliatives that can directly reach the intended beneficiaries without been NG sidelined by Government bureaucracy ”
Achebe however took a swipe on the political alliances ahead of the coming 2027 general election by political class noting that they are anti people.
“Meanwhile, the attention of the political class has become literarily diverted to the 2027 general elections , New alliances are being forged as political fortunes rise and fall largely for the self- preservation and material benefit of those in the game ” he said.
Achebe while lamenting the increasing insecurity in the country and particularly the South East geopolitical zone, prayed that the recent conviction of conviction of Simon Ekpa in Finland would reduce those incidents of kidnapping and killings in the area.
“The scourge of violence and kidnapping in the South East continues to mutate in different forms ”
“We pray that the recent conviction in Finland of Simon Ekpa will contribute to the general reduction of violent crime in the region ”
“Unfortunately the damage to the economy has grown astronomically in all sectors the of human endeavor ”
He sighted an intelligence report that in the last four years of disruption an estimated N7.6 trillion had been lost since 2021 when the weather imposition started noting that this year s a moment for derp reflection among Ndigbo, as NIgeria and the world are leaving the race behind due to the deliberate actions of a few purveyors of violence in the area.
