Mbaise USA, a group of Mbaise people living in the United States, and Mbaise Leadership Forum (MLF), another group of Mbaise sons and daughters living across the globe, have expressed sadness at the escalation of violence, loss of lives, and destruction of property in the south-east.
“Recent events in Imo State and Mbaise have been difficult to watch” but “we sincerely hope that peace will soon be restored,” the groups said, and urged Ndigbo to “set our sights higher than mere survival.”
Violence has increased in recent weeks in Imo State as security operatives clash regularly with Biafra agitators.
“All of us are united by our shared purpose to live in peace and security and to go about our legitimate activities without let or hindrance. And we desire to be treated with fairness and justice,” Mbaise USA and MLF said in a joint statement.
The statement, signed by Mbaise USA president, S.O. Echendu, and MLF moderator, Chris Ohanele, insisted that “the constitutional rights of Nigerian citizens cannot be taken for granted. And so, we have the right to demand them.
“But on the various possible ways to achieve the purpose, and to make our just demands, reasonable people can disagree without resorting to violence.”
The groups said they welcome all peaceful initiatives aimed at securing the lives and property of law-abiding citizens whose lives have been significantly impacted by the unrests and general insecurity.
It expressed support for the call by Ezuruezu Mbaise “for our people to stay away from actions that will lead to insecurity in our land.
“We ask Mbaise people to desist from making utterances that may inflame the current situation and further endanger lives and property.
“Social media should be used responsibly and not as a tool to cause panic. It should not be used to post hateful propaganda and incendiary comments.”
In the face of a common threat to the nation’s security, the group stressed, “it is necessary that we stay united even as we may have different points of views. We must avoid the temptation to turn on one another.”
