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Business mogul-turned royal father, Igwe Gerald Obunadike Mbamalu, Eze Oranyelu 1, Eze Ojoto the 111 in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State, has likened the hardship in the country under the president Muhammadu Buhari government, to that of the Nigerian civil war.
Mbamalu who drew this comparison during an interview with Daily Sun, said more attention and money has been spent on fighting insecurity in the country, but nothing substantial has been done to address the major causes of the insecurity bedeviling the country.
"First and foremost, you will agree with me that security of life and property is responsibility of government. However, the situation in Nigeria was not as bad as it is now. The question is what went wrong?" he said in response to question on real cause of worsening security situation in the country.
Speaking further, he said, "The people welcomed the All Progressives Congress (APC) with high hope and expectations. I mean Nigerians supported APC overwhelmingly because of its change mantra. No government apart from the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) during the June 12, 1993 Presidential election got such tremendous support.
I have never seen this level of hunger in Nigeria like we have it today except during the Nigerian civil war. Poverty level is so high and frightening and that is the major cause of insecurity.
"Unfortunately, most Nigerians have yet to feel the impact of the positive change this government promised them. Yes, the APC-led government tried to create jobs through its social investment programme, but till now many youths in some parts of the country have not benefited.
"These aggrieved youths in Nigeria irrespective of tribes, religion and political affiliation, have been left frustrated and angry. They are angry because in terms of security, they are jobless and the best way they can express their disappointment and anger is by making trouble.
"I have never seen this level of hunger in Nigeria like we have it today except during the Nigerian civil war. Poverty level is so high and frightening and that is the major cause of insecurity," he said.
"Another cause of insecurity and agitation is injustice and as long as unemployment, exchange and inflation rate continue to soar high and if this continue there won’t be peace in the nation.
"As you can see, cost of living is increasingly embarrassing to common Nigerians and the take home pay of few employed ones can’t take them home from their bus/stop. So, with all these imbalances in the polity, do you expect the people to be peaceful?" he questioned.