NIGERIA MASTERWEB DAILY NEWS

By Imo United USA Incorporated

On Friday June 25, 2010 at the Best Western Hotel in Prince Georges County, Maryland USA, Nigerians of Imo State descent, their friends and well wishers gathered for a night of communal rekindling of faith in one another, and entertainment in the launching of Imo United USA Inc. Conceived by certain leading lights of the Imo community in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area, Imo United USA Inc. is intended to fill the vacuum that unfortunately exists in the community in the lack of a strong association that coheres Igbo people of Imo State descent. Many attempts have been made in the past to establish an organization that would provide a platform to address the needs and concerns of Imo people. Within the larger and diverse community of the Washington Metropolitan area, Igbo people of Imo State descent have indisputable concerns and needs, necessitating, therefore, a strong organization that would play a strong advocacy role in addressing those concerns and meeting their needs. Some of the concerns expressed range from cultural issues like the cultural conflicts and consequent difficulties that result from melding African and American cultures in raising children, to the gradual but alarming denudation of lingual heritage in the inability of American born Igbo children to communicate in the 5,000 year old Igbo language.

The needs of Nigerians of Imo State descent are various, but the generally agreed salient ones are economic and social. Economically, there is a need to take advantage of their population strengths in their respective communities by rising to become major economic players ( for example, Ibos make up about 20% of the population of Prince Georges County Maryland, yet have no significant economic presence in major areas of the economy of Prince Georges County). Socially, there is a need to establish a strong advocacy presence in the corridors of power to work for targeted state funded healthcare, pro family and education programs. State or county funded Igbo language programs for Igbo children is an area of great need.

In speeches at the launching of Imo United USA, the speakers covered some of these concerns and needs. The common thread of the speeches, however, was the imperative of Imo United to spearhead a renewal of faith among Imo people that cohesion is once again possible. And that the cynicisms engendered by previous failures to cohere them must be jettisoned for a new day of unity, citizenship, youth development, cultural pride, and vigorous political and socioeconomic advocacy both in the USA and in Nigeria. Speeches were delivered by Chief Sam Uwandu CPA, ACA, chairman of Imo United USA; Dr. Charles Uzoigwe, chairman of the occasion; Prof. Cosmas Nwokeafor, dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Bowie State University; Mrs. Margaret Dureke, President of JAHS Enterprises; and Ms. Chioma Dike, a recent Howard university graduate and law school bound, who spoke for the youth.

In his keynote address, Chief Uwandu strongly emphasized the need for the Imo Diaspora to use its numbers to effect positive change, not only in their Diaspora communities, but also back home in Imo State, where the quality of life has been rendered intolerable by high unemployment, and a devastating crime wave whose apogee is a pernicious kidnapping spree. Businesses are closing up shop and leaving the state in droves, and many of the elite and their families are keeping away for fear of being kidnapped. Essentially, Imo State and the rest of the Southeast region are going through a slow socioeconomic death as a consequence of the activities of heartless criminals, while the Igbo political leadership is doing little to nothing to stop them. Chief Uwandu issued a clarion call to duty and an uncompromising commitment to reverse the society-killing trends.

Imo United USA Inc. strongly urges that:

1. The federal government must without delay take steps to deal decisively with the kidnappings spree, but also commends President Jonathan for the steps he has taken so far in deploying additional police to the southeast region.

2. The Igbo caucuses at the House and Senate whose seeming demonstration of a lack of responsibility to their constituents on the kidnappings issue is deeply chagrining and disappointing, must act now in concert with our president to eradicate this societal cancer, which is abhorrently reminiscent of the Transatlantic Slave Trade when Alaigbo was rife with kidnappings for the Slave Trade and no one was safe. In this 21st Century, we insist that we are not going back to the insecurity and darkness of those days. We are disappointed that the southeast senators aren’t aggressively addressing this issue with the police and other stakeholders with the utmost urgency required?

3. A bill must be introduced in the Senate and House without delay to require mobile telephone providers to verify personal data in the sale of sim cards and to register such sales. Additionally, non registered sim cards would be cancelled. Enactment of this law should give the law enforcement authorities a powerful tool in combating crime. Mexico recently passed such a law and is currently making significant progress in denting the crime of kidnapping in its territory.

4. A free and fair election must be insisted upon by Nigerians. In this light, the Imo United USA Inc. commends President Jonathan for his appointment of Professor Attahiru Jega as the new INEC chairman. Professor Jega’s positive antecedents provide hope that it can be done, and we pray that God will give him the wisdom and courage to do it for Nigerians.

Imo United USA Incorporated is a non profit, non political organization registered under the laws of the state of Maryland, USA.

Photo Above: Map of Nigeria showing its 36 states (including Imo State) and capital (Abuja or FCT)

Photo Above: Imo State Governor Ikedi Ohakim

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