“Sack Afor Umuaka governing council with immediate effect.”Innocent Onyemaobi.

An illustrious son of Umuaka from Umuele Amazano Autonomous Community, Chief Innocent Chigozie Onyemaobi (Ogbuhuru Uzo 1 of Umuaka Ancient Kingdom), has called on authorities and stakeholders in Umuaka to immediately dissolve the governing council of Afor Umuaka Modern Market. Onyemaobi made this call following allegations that the council conspired to shut down the market on Saturday, April 11, 2026, in celebration of a grand reception organized in honour of the Chairman of Njaba LGA, Chief Vitalis Obi, also known as Etiokwe.

The controversy began when Umuaka Times published a breaking news report on the day of the event, showing that Afor Umuaka Market had been locked due to the reception, which was taking place in Okwudor. The report triggered widespread reactions among indigenes, with conflicting accounts emerging. While some individuals, particularly market officials, denied that the market was shut down, further findings indicated that market authorities had allegedly directed shop owners to stay away or face a penalty of ₦20,000.

Following these developments, Chief Onyemaobi, after reviewing what he described as contradictions from the market leadership, urged the people of Umuaka to unite and remove the governing council. He noted that Afor Umuaka Market had never been closed for any reason in the past, including the era which was the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expressing strong dissatisfaction, Chief Onyemaobi accused the market leadership of double standards and insincerity in handling matters affecting the community. He questioned why Afor Umuaka was shut down while other markets within Njaba LGA, particularly Eke Okwudor Market the host community of the event remained open.

In his concluding remarks, the Ogbuhuru Uzo 1 appealed to all Umuaka organizations and stakeholders, both within Nigeria and in the diaspora, to unite in calling for the removal of the Chief Uzoma Achazie-led market leadership and to thoroughly review its activities.

Many Akalites who spoke during the time the controversy raged on, seriously lamented that Afor Umuaka had been absolutely abandoned since the inception of the current government in Njaba LGA. High profiles Akalites who expressed their views on the development totally condemned the activities of the market governing committee and called for reforms in outright terms.