Think Home: Mbaugwu Community Unites to Tackle Insecurity, Drive Development
President-General of the Mbaugwu Uturu Development Association (MUDA), Pastor Inno Wilson
Mbaugwu Community in Uturu, Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State, has initiated a developmental process aimed at strengthening institutional development and promoting progress in the community.
The initiative is targeted at improving the community’s security network, fostering unity among the people and ultimately driving greater development.
Themed “Peace and Unity: The Foundation for Sustainable Progress and Development in Mbaugwu — Today and Tomorrow,” the maiden conference brought together sons and daughters of the community, agreed to tackle insecurity and pursue purposeful development, education and unity for the entire Mbaugwu community.
The President-General of the Mbaugwu Uturu Development Association (MUDA), Pastor Inno Wilson, commended the progress and achievements recorded in the community, while appealing for greater development through synergy and collaboration among stakeholders.
He praised the people for attending the conference en masse, describing it as an initiative designed to leapfrog development in the community.
According to him, there must be peace and unity among the people for the community to achieve purposeful development.
He said Mbaugwu had all the potential to become a great community but had been hindered by internal challenges and disunity, which had resulted in the people failing to speak with one voice.
He called for unity, stronger connections and synergy among members of the community and the various villages, urging them to always “think home” and contribute to the development of Mbaugwu.
Pastor Wilson also appealed for support to equip the community’s vigilante group to strengthen security and protect residents from attacks and other misdemeanours.
According to him, with unity and a common voice, there was nothing the people could not achieve.
He said the international conference was an opportunity for the people to come together, speak freely, listen to one another, identify their challenges and find practical solutions for the progress of Mbaugwu.
He, however, stressed the need for honesty, urging participants to speak the truth and confront the challenges facing the community.
He noted that although the community had recorded several achievements, there were still many challenges that needed to be addressed.
“This conference should therefore not be a gathering where we only praise ourselves. Let us identify our weaknesses. Let us criticise the things that are not working. Let us ask difficult questions, but let us do so constructively and with the interest of Mbaugwu at heart.
“We need to discuss how we can improve our unity, strengthen our association, develop our infrastructure, empower our youths, increase participation from our people in the diaspora, and create sustainable development initiatives,” he said.
According to him, the present administration had made significant progress and was willing to do more, but needed the support of all stakeholders.
“We have successfully facilitated the formation of the MUDA Youth Wing and the MUDA Home Branch, creating stronger structures for wider participation.
“We have also maintained periodic engagements with our Ezes, traditional leaders and Town Union Presidents because we believe that development must be built through consultation and cooperation.
“On infrastructure, we have commenced palliative work on the Okeala Road, which is still ongoing,” he said.
He appreciated those who had contributed to the effort, particularly:
High Chief Okafor Onyekaсhi, TPM, Ohaukwu Amairi
High Chief Pharm. Chidi Ogbaegbe, PG Emeritus
Pst. Maurice Onuoha Uzu
Sir Odinaka Iyioke, KSJI
High Chief Ndubisi Okafor
Bro. Dan Okoronkwo
He said their support demonstrated what could happen when individuals put the interests of the community first.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ekwuribe, in his address titled “Peace and Unity: The Foundation for Sustainable Progress and Development in Mbaugwu — Today and Tomorrow,” said the purpose of the meeting was to bring everybody together to collectively discuss the way forward and tackle the challenges and problems confronting the community.
He identified some of the challenges facing the community as lack of peace, communal conflicts and other disagreements, noting that these were hindering purposeful development.
Regrettably, he said many villages in Mbaugwu were in court over various issues, stressing that no community could develop amid such acrimony.
He also called on the people to become actively involved in politics and stop saying they were not politicians.
According to him, everyone was a politician, noting that the benefits of political engagement were enormous.
He also appealed to the youths of Mbaugwu to pursue higher educational qualifications, noting that a first degree alone could limit opportunities.
Dr. Ekwuribe frowned at the get-rich-quick syndrome among youths, saying that the spirit and ancestral values of Mbaugwu were opposed to such practices.
According to him, no Mbaugwu person had become wealthy through stealing or prostitution.
He urged everyone to cultivate the right values as a sustainable means of achieving success in life.
He also appealed to the illustrious sons and daughters of Mbaugwu to support the community’s security fund, noting that many people had stopped returning home because of fears of kidnapping, robbery and other criminal activities.
The Chairman of the occasion, Arch . Daniel Ekwuribe, appealed for peace and unity in Mbaugwu to move the community forward.
He said every village in Mbaugwu should key into the security architecture of the community.
He urged each village to provide at least one vigilante uniform and make donations towards the community’s security efforts.
The MUDA Home Branch Women Leader, Mrs. Patricia Akosim, called on women to participate actively in the activities of the community.
She also called on traditional rulers and Presidents-General to work towards promoting unity and peace in the community.
According to her, one of the major challenges facing the community was disunity, noting that no community could progress and develop without peace and unity.
Speaking at the event, HRH Eze Charles Onuoha,the traditional ruler of ISi Eyi Autonomous community commended the President-General of Mbaugwu for his efforts to reposition the community for purposeful development.
He praised the executive and promised to provide all necessary support for the progress and development of the community.
He also said that only unity among the people of Mbaugwu could enhance the greater development of the community.
The member representing Isuikwuato Local Government Area in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Kucky Johnson, promised to support Mbaugwu in strengthening its security architecture.
According to him, the House had recently passed a law to support vigilante groups, under which every vigilante member would receive a monthly stipend of N70,000.
He also gave an account of his representation, noting that he had performed well and would facilitate the construction and rehabilitation of roads after discovering that many roads in the area were in poor condition.
He urged the President-General and traditional rulers to write a letter detailing the community’s needs so that he could forward them to the Abia State House of Assembly for consideration.
