International Liaison of Mbaise Indegenes
112 South Munn Avenue, East Orange, New Jersey 07018
Our ref: ILMI/Gov/Comm/8-2010
August 16, 2010
His Excellency, Gov. Ikedi Ohakim,
The Executive Governor of Imo State,
Government House, Owerri,
Imo State, Nigeria.
Your Excellency,
I have been mandated by the International Liaison of Mbaise Indigenes; the ILMI, to write this letter on our behalf. Our association, with headquarters in the United States of America, is comprised of Mbaise Indigenes living abroad in different parts of the world with a mission to speak with one voice on matters that affect the entire Mbaise community.
Mbaise used to be a center of excellence in industry, academics, business, security matters, and religious affairs. It used to be a pleasure growing up in our community. Our standard of education was comparable, if not superior, to what was obtainable in other parts of the civilized world. There was perceptible security in the land. People would go about their business without fear of danger, intimidation, harassment, or abduction. Our men, women and children relied on the government and its security agents to cater for our needs and safeguard our lives and properties. That was Mbaise, our homeland; then.
Today, things have fallen apart and our once serene and beautiful homeland has been overrun by insecurity, lawlessness, crushing poverty, massive unemployment, dilapidated infrastructure, and general malaise. From homes to hamlets to churches to major highways to market places, Mbaise people now live and move around in fear and are no longer secure in their homeland. It is no longer safe to live at home, to visit our beloved ones, to come during the festive seasons, or to even bury our dead. One would expect that in a community as large and diversely populated as Mbaise, one would find several well-situated, staffed, and equipped Police Stations. In a land blessed with abundant resources and visible wealth, most of our people now live on less than one dollar a day. Our teeming youths, the supposed leaders of tomorrow, are roaming about the streets and corners of the land unemployed and demoralized. Mbaise now has the highest number of un-employed youths in the country. Public utilities have become comatose and whatever infrastructure we had in the past is rapidly decaying. Since the end of the Mbakwe administration, Mbaise seems to have become a forgotten zone in terms of industry and employment opportunities. Even education, the one area that set Mbaise apart from others, has practically collapsed at all levels. People have lost the foundation on which to build a viable future.
An unfortunate chain-reaction is taking place in our land. Unemployment and poverty have become the foundations of general displeasure and anger which, in turn, lead to thoughts of revolt, banditry and abduction. In turn, those who would ordinarily assist our people back home with individual and/orinternational efforts are scared away from our home land. This, in turn, fuels the level of unemployment, poverty and despair. One thing leads to the other in a vicious cycle: Unemployment leads to poverty; poverty leads to anger; anger leads dangerous thoughts and activities of revolt and banditry which in turn lead to insecurity; insecurity breeds more chaos and scares away charitable individuals and organizations. The vicious cycle becomes self-sustaining and unmanageable.
Your Excellency, the indigenes of Mbaise at home and abroad, are distressed, disheartened and displeased; and we are obligated to ask questions about the events taking place in our homeland. As the Governor and the Chief executive officer of the State, you have an obligation and responsibility to explain to Mbaise indigenes and electorates how a government, such as yours, can stand by and watch while Mbaise community is consumed by insecurity, joblessness and untold hardship.
Your Excellency, what steps have you taken (or intend to take) to address these pressing problems in Mbaise community? We know there is a duly constituted government in Imo State. We also know that any government that cannot guarantee the safety and well-being of communities and individual citizens cannot rest of the mantle of comfort and legitimacy.
Your Excellency, we are the international body of Mbaise indigenes and we hereby speak on behalf of our distressed community. We shall reserve our final judgment pending your responses to the issues addressed above.
Sincerely yours
Dr. Charles O. Uzoaru, M.D., President, ILMI.
(For and on behalf of the ILMI).
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