The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, has expressed concern that many politicians across the country have shifted their focus from governance to political manoeuvring ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that such neglect is worsening poverty, insecurity, and hardship for ordinary Nigerians.
Speaking during the 2025 Ofala Festival in Onitsha, Anambra State, the monarch lamented that early politicking had taken precedence over efforts to address the nation’s pressing economic and social challenges.
“The attention of the political class has become literally diverted to the 2027 general elections,” Achebe said. “New alliances are being forged as political fortunes rise and fall. There is a distinct impression that these efforts are largely for self-preservation and material benefit.”
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He noted that the growing political distractions have come at a cost to ordinary citizens, who continue to grapple with rising food prices, unemployment, and insecurity.
“Ordinary Nigerians are paying the price of neglect as hardship deepens nationwide despite ongoing economic reforms,” the monarch said. “Our poverty rate has risen from 40 per cent in 2018 to 46 per cent in 2023, translating to about 104 million Nigerians now classified as poor, according to the World Bank Development Report on Nigeria.”
Achebe warned that continued insecurity, especially in rural areas, was crippling agricultural production and threatening food security. “The reality on the ground is dire,” he said. “The unending violence in most parts of the country continues to affect the agricultural sector very seriously.”
While acknowledging that the Federal Government had introduced “laudable macroeconomic stabilisation measures,” he urged transparency and fairness in the distribution of palliatives. “Relief materials must reach the intended beneficiaries directly and not be derailed by corruption or bureaucracy,” he advised.
Turning to the South-East, Achebe described insecurity in the region as a major obstacle to development and investment. He referenced a report by SBM Intelligence, Four Years of Disruption, which estimated that the region had lost about ₦7.6 trillion since 2021 due to violence and sit-at-home disruptions.
“The scourge of violence and kidnapping in the South-East continues to mutate in different forms,” the monarch said. “We pray that the recent conviction in Finland of Simon Ekpa will contribute to a general reduction of violent crime in the region.”
He called on Igbo leaders to engage in “deep reflection” and to unite for peace and progress. “Nigeria and the world are leaving us behind due to the deliberate actions of a few purveyors of violence among us,” Achebe cautioned.
On the upcoming Anambra governorship election scheduled for November 8, the traditional ruler urged peace, transparency, and greater voter participation, expressing worry over low turnout in the ongoing voter registration exercise.
“In the first week of the INEC registration exercise, only 2,482 persons pre-registered online across four South-East states, excluding Anambra, compared to 848,359 in the South-West. This is alarming and demands urgent mobilisation by our leaders,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Achebe said the 2025 Ofala Festival — his 24th since ascending the throne in 2002 — remained a symbol of resilience, unity, and cultural pride.
“Our theme last year was ‘Better. Stronger. Together.’ It was a call on our people to consolidate on our breakthroughs and galvanise for the challenges ahead,” he said. “That message remains as relevant today as ever.”
