Iri Ji Mbaise

Here we are once again in the month of August when the people of Mbaise no matter where the may be found celebrate the most widely regarded cultural tradition of all time ji Mbaise. As a son of the soil, I will use this avenue to congratulate all Mbaise sons and daughters especially those outside Mbaise who have constantly kept this tradition alive. Usually the 15Th of August is the day Mbaise celebrates the iri ji festival and many Mbaise sons and daughters here the United States have religiously kept faith with it. From Dallas to Newark, North Carolina to California this month has been booked solid with activities to celebrate the ji Mbaise festival.

That brings me to one other important issue, the political development of Mbaise. I know for a fact that several associations both here and at home have programs for the purpose of developing our various communities yet I am yet to see any indication that we are getting ahead or even near where we are supposed to be at this time politically. Since the creation of Imo State, besides the ill fated attempt by Prof. F.N.C. Osuji to be the number one citizen of the state no other credible effort has been made by our sons and daughters to take our rightful place in the scheme of things. It is with heavy heart that I remember the likes of Chief P Nwaga, Dr. Ogbonna, Chief D Abii, Chief Agwulonu of the Mbaise Spokesman fame, and a host of others too many to mention here. These men were trail blazers who past on the mantle. Men like Mr. N D Uka, Barrister A. T Mbegbu, Chief C.A. Ekeanyanwu (my father) Chief Akwute, Chief D.O. Onu and many more who fought gallantly to keep Mbaise an indivisible entity.

What is happening today is disheartening. Men and women who have been importuned to occupy political position are only after there own welfare and that of their immediate families. No one remembers the roads, pipe borne water even electricity in the villages. Mbaise presently has the highest number of unemployed youths in the country today due to the fact that the only industry we have is education yet none of our elected officials is lifting a finger to see that there is a link between unemployment and crime. This is where I expect the abroad based Mbaise associations to come in. My hope is that organizations like Mbaise USA, International Liaison of Mbaise Insigne and Uzuko Mbaise to name a few should as a matter of urgency pull their resources together for the purpose of perfecting a plan to produce the next governor of the state. We still have time. I know we can do this if we put our minds together. If we can not help ourselves no one else will. Udo diri ndi Mbaise nile.