Brainbox suggests solution to Umuaka Community Hospital’s crisis.
3 min read
Youthful politician and stakeholder in Umuaka Honourable Obinna Orgazi last week suggested some solutions that according to him will quench the crisis currently going on at Umuaka Community Hospital. A press statement Orgazi popularly known as Brainbox issued last week and titled A Call for Unity and Progress: The Umuaka Community Hospital, touched on a variety of issues.
Below is an unedited copy of the press statement.
Dear Esteemed Brethren,
Good morning. I come to you today with a humble and passionate appeal regarding the Umuaka Community Hospital, which has long been a source of division and discord among our beloved communities. This institution, once a symbol of our unity and collective strength, now lies in ruins. Yet, I believe that together, we can restore it—not just as a hospital, but as a beacon of hope, progress, and shared prosperity.
After speaking with many of our people, particularly the sons and daughters of Aka ebe iri, I have gathered some key insights about the hospital’s history:
– The land on which the hospital stands was generously donated by the communities of Amiyi and Ugbele, with additional contributions from Uba and Achara, subject to further verification. We have testimony from HRH Ahanotu (Iyi of Amiyi-Akah) affirming that Uba’s contribution was land purchased from Amiyi.
– The hospital project started in 1975 with funds raised through voluntary donations and community levies, allocated at a ratio of 3:2:1 (N7, 500, N5,000, and N2,500 respectively). Unfortunately, one community chose not to contribute, leaving the remaining nine to shoulder the burden.
If these facts are confirmed, and if our communities still hold interest in this joint venture, I offer the following proposal as a starting point for dialogue and resolution:
1. *Rebuilding the Hospital:* Let us commit to rebuilding the Umuaka Community Hospital with a budget of N500,000,000. This project should be structured as a company, ensuring transparency, accountability, and sustainability.
2. *Equitable Share Distribution:* Allocate 50% of the shares to the land-donating communities. For example, if Amiyi and Ugbele are found to have donated 40% of the land each, they would receive 20% of the shares each. Similarly, if Uba or Achara contributed 20% of the land, they would receive 10% of the shares. The actual shares should be determined through a thorough investigation and fact-finding mission.
3. *Community Investment Opportunity:* Offer the remaining 50% of the shares for sale at N10 million per 1% share. First, give our communities the chance to reinvest in this project, using the original 3:2:1 ratio or at a flat rate. For instance, any community that invests N50 million would secure a 5% stake.
4. *Establishing a Governing Board:* Form a Board to oversee the hospital’s operations, with representation reflecting the shareholding structure. Those with majority shares will have decision-making authority, ensuring that the hospital is managed effectively and for the benefit of all stakeholders.
5. *Profit and Responsibility Sharing:* Annual returns, profits, and losses should be shared based on the percentage of shares owned. This ensures that the benefits and responsibilities are equitably distributed.
6. *Benefits to Host Communities:* the host communities should be prioritized for employment, welfare programs, and other corporate social responsibilities, in proportion to their land contributions.
Before we let past grievances cloud our judgment, let us take a moment to consider the immense potential of this proposal. Imagine a world-class hospital in Umuaka, providing top-tier healthcare and employment opportunities for our people. This vision is within our reach if we are willing to set aside our differences and work together.
In the coming weeks, I will be visiting our communities with like-minded Akah sons to discuss this proposal in detail and gather more ideas. I encourage every patriotic son and daughter of Akah to join this movement with an open mind, free from the chains of emotion and primordial sentiments.
* This model could be applied to any other projects where land was donated by more than 1 community and were verifiably jointly developed.
Let us seize this opportunity to transform a source of division into a cornerstone of unity and development for generations to come.
