The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, on Saturday urged Nigerians not to blame President Muhammadu Buhari, for the current economic woes.
Achebe made the call in a speech to mark his 15th Ofala festival in Onitsha on Saturday.
The monarch, who said that things went wrong because of the collective decisions made by the previous regimes, urged Buhari to consider the advice of many Nigerians on the way out.
“Many Nigerians, including Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Cardinal Francis Arinze, have spoken and joined attention to the sufferings of the people.
“Buhari should look into the collective views of Nigerians in addressing the current recession,” he said.
He urged the president to also look into the alleged constant harassment of citizens by herdsmen across the country.
Achebe commended Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra for his policies and major strides in agriculture, security, education and health, which, he said, had yielded results in the state.
While also commending the governor for the N20 million special projects in the 177 communities of the state, Achebe said Onitsha which generated largely the state revenue was marginalised in the arrangement.
He urged him to complete the hydrocarbon and petroleum projects in the state as well as the five star hotels under construction in Awka and Onitsha.
The monarch said that peace building, love and mutual respect now reign in Onitsha under his leadership, adding that he had commenced an anti-drug rehabilitation of youths in the area.
According to him, this is aimed at preventing drug abuse among youths.
In his remarks, Gov. Obiano said that he reduced some taxes on wheelbarrow pushers, petty traders, tricycle operators and motorcycle riders to ameliorate the effect of the current recession.
Obiano said that all the people with disabilities in the state had also been offered employment.
He promised additional N20 million projects, each for Onitsha North and Onitsha South Local government areas, and said the ones already executed in the communities were of desired standard.
He commended the customs of Onitsha people and urged citizens to support the monarch’s leadership wisdom. (NAN)