The Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Achebe, has warned politicians against abandoning governance for early 2027 election alliances, lamenting that insecurity has cost the Southeast about ₦7.6 trillion.
The Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Achebe, has cautioned politicians against abandoning governance for early political scheming ahead of the 2027 elections, warning that the move could deepen Nigeria’s economic and social hardship.
Speaking at the 2025 Ofala Festival in Onitsha, Achebe said, “The attention of the political class has become literally diverted to the 2027 general elections… largely for self-preservation and material benefit.”
He lamented worsening poverty and insecurity, noting that “our poverty rate has risen from 40 percent in 2018 to 46 percent in 2023, translating to about 104 million Nigerians now classified as poor.”
Achebe expressed concern over the economic toll of insecurity in the Southeast, citing an SBM Intelligence report that estimated ₦7.6 trillion in losses since 2021.
He urged transparency in social welfare distribution and called for peace, voter participation, and reflection among Ndigbo as the region faces escalating challenges.