Achebe said Nigeria is at a “dangerous crossroads” politically, economically, socially and security-wise as a result of the lack of transparent elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission in February.
Achebe also said uncertainty and hardship have been further complicated in the country by the continuing security concerns spreading across the country following the unilateral removal of the fuel subsidy without a backup strategy.
The monarch, also known as Agbogidi, stated these in his remarks during his 22nd Ofala Festival held in Onitsha, adding that achievements, failures and several others that could have been done better have remained work in progress.
He added that with its giant strides, the Ofala Festival has continued to receive both national and international recognition in addition to the endorsement by the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, thereby making it a major Nigerian festival.
He said, “The last 12 months have been most eventful for our dear country, dominated largely by the politics of national elections that took place in February this year. The outcome of the presidential elections, which has been upheld by the Presidential Elections Petitions Tribunal has been further challenged at the Supreme Court.
“Furthermore, the civil society organisations have announced an extended civil disobedience agenda to ‘occupy Nigeria’ in protest against the non-transparency of the presidential election process and the ruling of PEPT.
“The uncertainty that now prevails would have been averted if INEC had convincingly conducted transparent elections with the massive resources at its disposal.
“This has further been complicated by the continuing security concerns in most parts of the country following the eight years of the previous administration, the early economic measures by the new administration, including the unilateral removal of fuel price subsidy without a backup strategy are seriously deepening the hardship in the country.
“It is particularly affecting the lower rungs of the society and in effect, the country is at a dangerous crossroads politically, economically, socially and security-wise.”
While lamenting the increasing rate of insecurity in the South-East region, Achebe said the development has crippled the economic base of the region with its resultant incalculable losses in finances, properties and lives.
“In the South-East, we have the aftermath of the last general elections, the complex and protracted security situation involving kidnappers, political thugs, state and non-state actors all masquerading as unknown gunmen as well as the crippling economic strangulation of the region arising from the insecurity and the ill-advised sit-at-home that has cost Ndi Igbo incalculable losses.
“Our community is not immune to the above challenges. Our people are also hurting badly. Therefore, despite the fact that the Ofala remains a celebration, we have made a conscious decision to prune down the scope of the festival for this year to more restrained levels in line with the prevailing mood in the country. We hope that the situation will improve significantly to enable us to resume the festival at normal levels in the future,” Achebe added.
According to him, the statutory security agencies with bases in Onitsha, including the police, army, navy and DSS have become mostly reactive to insecurity, rather than prevention.
He said, “Our reliance for prevention is wholly on our vigilante services in two formations. These are the Anambra State Vigilante Group and the Onicha Ado Community Vigilante Group.
“Our biggest challenge is the inadequacy of funding for salaries, equipment and consumables which is literally borne by the community, except for the paltry state government contribution of N10,000 each for 10 persons per month only.”
In his remarks at the event, the Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, declared war on touts and hooliganism in Onitsha.
Soludo noted that what used to be known as “Greater Onitsha”, which comprised five local government areas in today’s Anambra, used to be the very cradle of Igbo civilisation, and that for Igbo land to move forward, Onitsha must first experience it.
He said, “We felicitate with Agbogidi on the occasion of this year’s Ofala festival, which is his 22nd on the throne. I like the projection of Onitsha Ofala by the Onitsha people. It is a noble culture.
“Onitsha constitutes the Obi of Ndigbo, and for Igbo to move forward, Onitsha must move forward. That is why we are working hard so that the dry bones will rise again. This is the big city for which Igbo is known.
“We have resolved to wipe out thugs and touts in Onitsha. Very soon, we are coming for them. We don’t know from what town they are coming from to take over Onitsha, but we will keep evacuating them.
“Onitsha will be safe again. Agbero must be wiped out of Onitsha. But it is a gradual process, the more we wipe them out, the more they come, we don’t know where they are coming from, but all we know is that they must leave Onitsha.
“In the next few weeks an operation will commence, something big will happen in Onitsha in terms of security.”
