Umuaka Times may seek legal redress over UCH closure.
3 min read
Last week, the publisher of Umuaka Times newspaper, Darlington Ojy Onwukwe made a broadcast which circulated on several digital platforms of Umuaka people including the Umuaka Times Institute, the whatsapp group of the newspaper. In the broadcast, the publisher condemned in strongest terms, the continued closure of Umuaka Community Hospital by some certain forces in the community.
The newspaper explained that the students who are reading nursing and lab science courses at the hospital as well as the workers have been totally displaced from their education and employment respectively from the time of the tragic closure of the hospital. It is with great dismay that since the institution was shot down in the last few months, the students have been roaming the streets without focus and the workers have turned to beggars in order to make ends meet. “They all paid their school fees and other levies and at last, they were denied the education they paid for.” Umuaka Times states in the broadcast.
From the details of events Umuaka Times gathered so far, the hospital was closed because Amiyi Autonomous Community is making some claims over the property. The signpost at the hospital which was formally Umuaka Community Hospital was changed to Amiyi Akah Community Hospital. In an interview with Umuaka Times with the Iyi of Amiyi, HRH Eze Francis Ahanotu, shortly after the Amiyi youths mounted the signpost, he told Umuaka Times that the action taken by Amiyi was as a result of injustices going on in Umuaka Municipal Council UMC, concerning Afor Umuaka and other assets jointly owned by UMC. He described his people as peace loving community who are ready to bring peace in the community and live in harmony with others.
Be that as it may, in the Umuaka Times broadcast, the newspaper clearly stated that it was not interested in who claims the ownership of the hospital but the interest of the newspaper is to make sure that no grass suffers as a result of a fight between two elephants.”The hospital may belong to any party but the students should not be deprived of their rights to education.”
Fillers from one of the students who spoke with Umuaka Times on the issue,” most of the students have forgotten about going back to school again while the workers are wallowing in penury and hunger on daily basis.”
Umuaka Times in the conclusion of the broadcast, demonstrated its readiness to seek legal redress on behalf of the students and workers at the hospital if the closure of the hospital is continued. “We have been complaining in the community that the younger ones do not show interest in education any longer. For God’s kindness, the students at UCH have decided to acquire education, we should be giving them support and not posing as stumbling blocks against their dreams. The conflict of ownership of the hospital may last till the next 2 to 3 years or more but, without a viable solution. Does it mean that the workers and students will be put out of order till thy kingdom come?”
As it stands now, Umuaka Times has shown interest to compile the names of the students and workers in the hospital for further actions which could be either getting them back to school or to seek legal redress.
It’s out of place to close down the institute, but as an intervener, does the grouse of the Amiyi people stand? Justice Will always prevail no matter how long it takes.