••• Monarch Celebrates 22nd Year on the Throne
By John Ugo and Kamsi Anayo
The Obi of Onitsha His Majesty, Igwe Nnemeka Alfred Achebe (Agbogidi) has said that the poor outcome of the 2023 general elections and attendant protests the trailed the excise would have been avoided if the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC convincingly conducted a transparent, free, fair and credible polls considering massive resources available at its disposal.
He noted that the myriads of problems facing the country have brought the nation to dangerous crossroads of political, economic, insecurity and social woes which are affecting all other aspects of the polity.
Igwe Achebe stated this on Saturday during the Ofala Festival and 22nd years on the throne of the Onitsha Ancient Kingdom in Anambra’ state.
He said that the dangerous situation in the country calls for worry.
“The outcome of the Presidential election which has been upheld by the Presidential Elections Petitions Tribunal has been further challenged at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Further more, the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have announced an extended civil disobedience agenda to “Occupy Nigeria” in protest against the non- transparency of the PEPT .
“The uncertainty that now prevails would have been averted if INEC had convincingly conducted transparent elections with the massive resources at its disposal.
“The uncertainty had been further complicated by the continuing security concerns in most parts of the country. Following eight years of the previous administration, including the unilateral removal of fuel subsidy without a backup strategy, have seriously deepened the hardship in the country, particularly, at the lower rungs of the society.”
“In effect, the country is at a dangerous crossroads, politically, economically, socially and security wise”
“In the South East, we have the aftermath of the last general elections; the complex and protracted security situation involving kidnapers, political thugs, state and no state actors, etc ; all masquerading as unknown gunmen as well as crippling economic strangulation of the South East arising from the insecurity and the ill advised Sit-At-Home protest that has cost Ndigbo incalculable losses in finances and tragically, properties and lives ” he said.
Achebe further noted that the Onitsha Ancient Kingdom has been able to contain the security challenges following the contributions of security operatives in the area .
Chairman Onitsha South local government area Chief Emeka Joseph Orji said that in the last one year that he came Into office, his administration has enjoyed robust and great synergy with the Monarch.
He stressed that his support and fatherly role have been the tonic that boost security of lives and property in the commercial town.
“It is on record that our Royal Majesty Igwe Alfred Achebe Agbogidi since he came into office has provided the tonic and the much needed synergy that has provided adequate security of lives and property in Onitsha and whatever we have achieved so far is simply due to the instrumentality of His Majesty” he said
Speaking also, Gov Charles Soludo announced that in the next two weeks something symbolic would happen in Onitsha and Anambra state in general in the area of security.
He added that the menace of touts and criminals would soon be a thing of the past.
“Onitsha is the Homeland of the entire Igbo race because there is no person in the South East that do not have a relative in Onitsha and this includes the greater Onitsha which comprises of Onitsha North, Onitsha South, Idemili North and South as well as Ogbaru local government areas”
“,We cannot afford to allow touts to run down Onitsha which is the commercial nerve center of the South East and we are clearing all illegal structures and undesirable elements in Onitsha.
“This would have multiplier effect on commerce, industry and wealth creation as well as social harmony” he stated.
