By Okey Maduforo Awka.
The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe Agbaogidi has thrown his Royal weight behind the Catholic Bishops Conference over the state of affairs in Nigeria, stating that the situation of the country has worsened.
Achebe further dismissed the positions of top government functionaries in the cabinet of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu describing it as an act of playing the ostrich in the face of hardship and insecurity across the country.
Agbaogidi who disclosed this at the 25th Ofala Onitsha festival contended that it amounts to grave description for government functionaries to go to town with the impression that the Catholic Bishops do not represent the Nigeria populace noting that truth be told all is not well for the Nigerian masses.
“In my 2024 Ofala address, I remarked that the previous twelve 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”
Achebe recalled that”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”
He observed that hunger, unemployment, poor and inaccessible medical service, insecurity, and such other inadequate factors of human development are pervading in the country .
He appealed with . President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to give urgent attention to the dire situation on the ground.
Speaking on the 2027 general elections Igwe Achebe lamented that political office holders had abdicated their primary assignments for reelection campaigns adding that this is to the peril of the masses.
“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”
He therefore opened that it is imperative for non-partisan stakeholder groups, including the traditional and religious institutions, town unions, and the civil society organizations, to intensify their advocacy, mobilization and enlightenment for free and fair elections.
“Also, the political parties must abhor violence and engage in healthy, issues-based campaigns to enable the electorate make the right choices”
Achebe lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for it’s transparent conduct of the Osun State gubernatorial election but urged the body to improve on that in the next year’s general election.
“Except for the reports of violence and intimidation, the recent off-cycle governorship election in Osun State demonstrated robust campaign, massive turnout by voters, and a reasonable performance by the Independent National Election Commission (INEC)”
“The election has become a marker for the coming national elections and all eyes are on INEC to deliver free and fair outcomes”
He called 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 marginalization. In Democracy, all votes count. Therefore, we must come out and vote for our candidates.l”
Speaking on the theme of this year’s Ofala Onitsha festival Achebe explained that there is the need for hard work and perseverance.
“The theme for this year’s Ofala is “Igba mbo, Iga n’iru: Strive and Advance. This is sequel to the previous themes”
“In 2023, “Better. Together. Stronger.” was a call for consolidation on our breakthroughs whils galvanizing for future challenges”
“In 2024, “Courage. Perseverance. Self-reliance: Onye kwe, Chi’e ekwe” was a reflection on t prevailing hardship, and empathy and encouragement to our people to survive the hardship”he said.
