By Peter Ahiarakwe
Mbaise people are among the most United people in Imo State. Despite their different political background, they don’t joke with their unity as a people. You can accuse the people of Mbaise of anything, not that they don’t love themselves. They have that empathy for each other.
Imo State in the last few years has been bedevilled with insecurity. Specifically, most LGAs in Orlu zone have not had peace in the last two years, and still counting. Most communities in Orsu, Orlu, Oru East and Oru West, are deserted till date due to the ravaging insecurity.
In the last few months, we have seen the insecurity escalate to other parts of the state. Places like Okigwe, Onuimo, Ehime Mbano, among others are not left out in the ugly trend. In recent days, there seems to be a politically motivated strategy to infiltrate the Mbaise Nation with insecurity. The idea also looks political and not farfetched.
Reliably, some political power brokers in the state are not at peace with the level of unity enjoyed in Mbaise Nation especially during election. They fear that the block votes that come out from the area may be inimical to their success. Therefore, the plan is to cause serious unrest across Mbaise, with emphasis on ‘no election in Biafra land, we don’t want Aboki in Mbaise’, And lots more. The plan also will be to burn down government facilities, destroy INEC offices and kill their staff, target soft targets and strike in other to crate civil unrest in the area.
Recall that on January 14, hoodlums attacked the INEC office in Ahiazu Mbaise, ransacking the offices, while killing the security man. Just few days ago, January 28, to be precise, hoodlums also stormed the busy Afor Enyiogugu market, beheading one Hausa trader while shooting the other one. It was learnt that the other one died on his way to hospital.
What Mbaise Nation Must Do
The Mbaise people must first of all look at what is happening in Orsu, Orlu, Oru East and even some parts of Anambra State. They should then imagine such situation in Mbaise land. A once peaceful Nation.
They should remember that all their beautiful homes will be set ablaze, their businesses go into extinction. They should understand that the Ise Wu Otu mantra will no long make meaning to anybody. They will no longer have a platform for their usual convocations. Their cultural heritage will die, and their teeming youths will be killed like chickens while some will join the bad boys.
The way forward there is that the people of Mbaise must shun their differences. This is not a matter of political party. This is not about governorship, Senate, House of Assembly or house of rep. This is a matter of the soul of the Mbaise Nation.
Ezuruezu Mbaise, Mbaise Di, Umunna Mbaise, Izu Mbaise and other Mbaise bodies must come together, liaising with the traditional rulers to secure their land. The traditional prime ministers must get involved. The churches must also join hands. There must be a constant security review between the leadership of Mbaise Nation and the security agencies.
Going forward, a delegation of the Mbaise nation should visit the Governor of Imo State and report the unfortunate situation that is being escalated in Mbaise. They must thank the Governor immensely for the road he is doing through Mbaise Umuahia road, but must reinstate that infrastructure without security will amount to waste of scarce resources. They must assure the Governor that Mbaise people are his friends and not at war path with him. They must ensure that this meeting is not called for political reasons rather issues affecting the people of Mbaise.
Mbaise professionals must join their voice. They must remember that no government office has opened in Orsu and their likes, for the past two years. Mbaise lawyers must speak up, the clergy, religious leaders, they must shout and cry to avert this impending doom.
Finally, the government must ensure that it has no hand in this planed evil of making a once peaceful nation inhabitable. The government must not be found wanting in fueling crisis in its local communities for political reasons. The damages that have been done to Orsu, Orlu and their likes will take many years to recover. We cannot fold our arms and watch the Mbaise Nation slip away. Everyone must speak up now…
…Peter Ahiarakwe writes from Ogbe, Ahiara Ahiazu Mbaise. A concerned Mbaise Son.
