The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, has appealed to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to convene a national economic and security summit.
He made the call during the 2024 Ofala festival held on Friday at Ime Obi Onitsha, Anambra State.
He said, “The previous twelve months were marked by uncertainty occasioned by the aftermaths of the general elections, further exacerbated by the continuity of insecurity and the effects of the sudden removal of the fuel price subsidy.
“Unfortunately, the well-being of the polity has declined even more steeply in the last twelve months.”
The Obi of Onitsha identified the economy and security as the two most critical areas of concern, noting that their combined effects had resulted in rising costs of living, business closures, job losses, and a growing sense of hopelessness and mistrust in the government.
He noted that several individuals and organizations, including High Chief Gani Adams, The Patriots, League of Nigerian Columnists, Yoruba Council of Elders, Afenifere, and Arewa Consultative Forum, had urged the government to take constructive action to reverse the decline.
These stakeholders, the Onitsha Monarch said had proposed various solutions, including devolution and downsizing of governance, addressing the nexus between insecurity, agriculture, and high cost of living, mitigating the impact of fuel price on cost of living, and tackling bad governance driven by corruption and ostentatious lifestyle.
By convening a national economic and security summit, President Tinubu can bring together stakeholders to develop a comprehensive plan to address these challenges and chart a positive course for the country’s future, some analysts said
Igwe Achebe’s call for a national summit underscores the urgent need for collective action to address Nigeria’s pressing challenges and ensure a brighter future for its citizens.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that International Breweries PLC and Globacom are the major sponsors of the Onitsha Ofala Festival.
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