ABUJA/Nigeria: The Igbo Community Association (ICA), Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has expressed deep concern over what it described as a worsening national crisis, warning that Nigeria is approaching a critical turning point marked by insecurity, economic hardship, and what it termed misplaced political priorities.
In a strongly worded statement issued in Abuja, the association said the country is facing one of the most challenging periods in its 64-year history, citing persistent power outages, rising poverty, and what it described as a failure of governance under the current administration.
The statement, signed by the Secretary General of ICA FCT, Mazi Chinwoke Emmanuel Onah, criticised both the government and opposition parties, accusing the latter of focusing on issues driven by personal and political interests rather than the urgent needs of Nigerians.
The association specifically faulted opposition elements for concentrating their protests on the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Amupitan, while remaining largely silent on the escalating insecurity and killings in parts of the country, particularly in the Middle Belt.
According to the group, the contrast between political agitation over electoral leadership and the lack of response to ongoing violence reflects a troubling disconnect between political actors and the suffering of ordinary citizens.
President General of ICA FCT, Engr. Ikenna Ellis-Ezenekwe, lamented the deteriorating situation, stating that Nigerians are enduring unprecedented hardship amid rising insecurity.
“The people of Nigeria are truly suffering; times have never been this hard,” he said.
Ellis-Ezenekwe decried the continued killings and kidnappings across the country, noting that even senior military officers have not been spared in attacks by armed groups, while many communities remain vulnerable.
“Mothers are burying their children, and kidnappers parade openly without fear. Even top generals of the Nigerian military are being slaughtered by unmasked bandits, yet the country remains strangely at rest. We cannot continue like this,” he added.
The association called directly on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take more decisive action to address the country’s security and economic challenges, warning that current measures are insufficient to reverse the trend.
It urged the Federal Government to move beyond what it described as inadequate responses and implement urgent and effective strategies to safeguard lives and restore public confidence.
The ICA FCT further stressed that the time had come to end what it termed “the era of playing politics with the lives of the masses,” calling for leadership that prioritises the welfare and security of Nigerians above political considerations.
The group maintained that without immediate and coordinated action, the country risks deeper instability, urging all stakeholders to place national interest above partisan agendas.
