The Obi of Onitsha, His Royal Majesty Nnaemeka Achebe, has issued a strong warning to Nigeria’s political class over the escalating levels of corruption in the country.
He called on leaders to prioritize the public good over personal and sectional interests, emphasizing that this is the only path toward national progress.
Speaking in Abuja at the launch of Bold Leap, a book authored by Senator Chris Anyanwu, the monarch expressed deep concern about Nigeria’s economic challenges.
He likened the pervasive corruption to incessantly milking a cow without feeding it, warning that such practices would inevitably lead to the nation’s collapse.
“Should we continue milking the cow, it will die,” he said. “Since independence, we’ve been talking endlessly about change.
“It’s time we take decisive action. We have two options: keep milking the cow to death because of selfish interests or put Nigeria above all and turn things around. Time is not on our side.”
His Royal Majesty criticized the political class for their lack of accountability and commitment to good governance.
He condemned the trend of individuals entering public service primarily to serve personal interests, stressing that this approach jeopardizes the nation’s future.
The event, which drew a gathering of distinguished Nigerians, including former presidents, senators, governors, and traditional rulers, celebrated the 600-page autobiography of Senator Chris Anyanwu.
Key dignitaries in attendance included representatives of President Bola Tinubu, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and former President Goodluck Jonathan, alongside the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, and former Anambra State governors Chris Ngige and Peter Obi.
Achebe’s remarks underscored the urgency for transformative leadership to halt Nigeria’s descent into economic and political instability.