Umuaka News24

Recently, there has been outrage and outbursts of emotions from different individuals in Umuaka regarding some joint ventures and commercial enterprises instituted in various parts of the town by our people and the present decrepit state of those infrastructures, especially Umuaka Community Hospital.

From my understanding, the politics impeding the progress of Umuaka Community Hospital and its possible redevelopment is not really about management but sinister motives from a certain section of the society to unilaterally change its name which many other stakeholders consider unacceptable.

Every structure collectively built by the people of Umuaka should retain the name of the town to preserve history.
Using two hands to lift an idol is an honour to it.

Umuaka Community Hospital was built on an expanse of land that cut across multiple communities. It’s unconcionable for one community to rise to claim sole ownership of the facility to the extent of abruptly trying to totally eliminate Umuaka from its name to something that distorts its history.

Afor Umuaka remains Afor Umuaka, whatever its administration or present ownership arrangement.

Umuaka Police Station remains Umuaka Police Station, regardless of where it’s situated.

Umuaka Post Office remains Umuaka Post Office and no effort has been made to change its name by any party.

Saint Mary’s Catholic Church Umuaka remains Saint Mary’s Catholic Church Umuaka.

Girls Secondary Technical School Umuaka remains Girls Secondary Technical School Umuaka, not Obeakpu, Ugbele or Ibele.

Even Saint Saviours Secondary School Umuaka despite being relocated to Amiyi by the Catholic Church still retains its name Saint Saviours Secondary School Umuaka, not Amiyi.

The name of such institutions tell a story of their history, irrespective of their latest management. They’re our heritage.

Politics of name change already led to the closure of one school in Umuaka and the place is currently desolate and in fact where the killing of one of our illustrious sons, Charles Igwebuike, occurred.
Community Primary School Umuaka became a subject of dispute after Autonomous Communities were created in Umuaka. Ibele, Obeakpu, and Umuele, whose lands the school was built on started having disagreement over which name the school should bear.
From Umuaka, efforts were made by various parties to change it to Ibele or Amazano to the point that the school didn’t have a sign board until it finally closed entirely. Earlier this year, its administrative building went ablaze and the inferno incinerated records in the offices before it was extinguished. The place is now a hideout for bad actors, which compromises the security of all of us.

Umuaka Community Hospital should be revived by all means but its name should not be altered.

There needs to be a form of public private arrangement to make it fit for purpose and return it to viability.
Even if Amiyi wants to take a crucial role in its administration for whatever reason, it is embedded in history that the hospital belongs to the entire Umuaka and this fact should remain manifest in its name.