2026 Message
INTRODUCTION
As always, we begin this address with gratitude to God Almighty that we are celebrating my 25th Ofala festival on the throne of Ezechima. We thank Him for bringing us together and pray that the celebrations, and the numerous side events, will be joyous. This is the period of our annual rituals of gratitude to God for blessings received, atonement for our shortcomings, and supplication for sustained peace, harmony, and development in our kingdom.
To all gathered here, we say a hearty and resounding welcome. We do not take your presence for granted. We are aware of your busy schedules and the challenges of travel in the country. Please, relax and enjoy the festival.
The State of the Nation.
In my 2024 Ofala address, I remarked that the previous twelve months were marked by uncertainties following the general elections. I noted that the wellbeing of the polity has declined even more steeply in 2024. Unfortunately, the hardship has further deepened by 2025 thereby throwing more people below the poverty line. I referred to the World Bank development update on Nigeria that stated that some 104 million people had become classified as poor in 2023. The situation was worsened by unending insecurity in most parts of the country. I then called on the Government to make urgent provisions for the poorest in our society.
On Tuesday, 28 July 2026, the leadership of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria paid a courtesy visit to Mr. President and raised the persistent issues of national security and severe economic plight of the majority of our citizens. Unfortunately, some Government officials politicized the visit by claiming that the bishops spoke only for their congregation. The officials asserted that all was well in the country. But truth be told, the issues raised transcend political, religious and ethnic partisanship. Hunger, unemployment, poor and inaccessible medical service, insecurity, and such other inadequate factors of human development are pervading in the country. We plead with Mr. President to give urgent attention to the dire situation on the ground.
The national elections are barely three months away. Expectedly, the attention of the political class has increasingly turned to political positioning, and away from governance. Democratic elections are opportunities for the electorate to select the candidates that would deliver the best governance. It is, therefore, imperative for non-partisan stakeholder groups, including the traditional and religious institutions, town unions, and the civil society organizations, to intensify their advocacy, mobilization and enlightenment for free and fair elections. Also, the political parties must abhor violence and engage in healthy, issues-based campaigns to enable the electorate make the right choices.
Except for the reports of violence and intimidation, the recent off-cycle governorship election in Osun State demonstrated robust campaign, massive turnout by voters, and a reasonable performance by the Independent National Election Commission (INEC). The election has become a marker for the coming national elections and all eyes are on INEC to deliver free and fair outcomes.
Still on the national elections, I call on the people of the South East States to shake off their historical apathy towards elections. We cannot stay away from elections and turn around to complain of marginalization. In Democracy, all votes count. Therefore, we must come out and vote for our candidates.