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Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe has decried what he described as the widespread hardship in the country, stressing that ‘the country is at a dangerous crossroads politically, economically, socially and security-wise.’
Igwe Achebe pointed out during his 22nd Ofala Festival titled: ‘Better, Stronger Better’ that held at Ofala play ground, ‘Ime Obi’. He said that no part of the country is spared chaos with the South East facing the complex and protracted security situation involving kidnappers, political thugs, state and non-state actors, all masquerading as gunmen and crippling the economy of the South East.
He blamed the crisis on the past administration that mismanaged the economy and the present administration’s ‘early economic measures which included unilateral removal of the fuel subsidy without a backpack strategy.’
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This, he lamented, worsened hardship in the country, particularly at the lower rung of society.
He lamented that the situation also affected the ofala festival as he was forced to prune down the scope of the festival.
Assessing the progress of the festival, Igwe Achebe said of the 22 years; he had made an impact in a number of areas.
These included “a modernised and revitalised monarchy and leadership aura which today radiates beyond Onitsha to Anambra State, the Southeast region, Nigeria and beyond.”
That vision, Obi said, is animated in the various activities of the Onitsha Advancement Foundation.
The Ofala Festival was graced by dignitaries among them were the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, Governor of Enugu State, who was represented, Vice Chancellor of Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Prof. Greg Nwakobi, representatives of Archbishop of Onitsha and Bishop on the Niger, traditional rulers, etc.
