Ahiaeke community threatens legal action against NDUF over health centre claim

The President-General of Azueke Ibeku Autonomous Community in Umuahia North LGA of Abia State, Mr. Tony Onyenweaku, has raised alarm over alleged attempts by the Ndume Otuka Development Union Federated (NDUF) to lay claim to the newly retrofitted Ahiaeke Health Centre.

Onyenweaku accused members of the union of vandalising the Ahiaeke Primary and Secondary School, which has remained in a dilapidated state for years, and warned that the community would resist similar interference in the health facility.

Ahiaeke Health Centre

Speaking during a tour of the renovated health centre and the dilapidated school on Friday, Onyenweaku said autonomous communities were created by the Abia State Government to allow each to pursue policies and programmes that promote development.

He stressed that Azueke Ibeku would not allow the NDUF to “destroy the health centre the same way they have destroyed our school and market.”

“The health centre is a public property, but it is located within Azueke. Those laying claim to it are from outside our community. We will not allow them to dictate what happens here,” he declared.

Ahiaeke Health Centre

Onyenweaku accused the NDUF of poor stewardship of Ahiaeke Primary and Secondary School, saying their involvement had yielded no tangible progress. He questioned why the union could not focus on managing facilities within its own community.

The community leader disclosed that he had briefed the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, and reported the matter to the police. According to him, the Area Commander advised all parties to respect their autonomous boundaries, but the NDUF has allegedly continued to press its claim.

He revealed that Azueke Ibeku community has resolved to seek legal redress, asking the court to interpret the autonomy status granted to it in 2001 and restrain the NDUF from interfering in its affairs.

“We are ready and capable of defending our autonomy. Azueke is a government-recognised autonomous community with a traditional ruler and council. NDUF has no authority to superintend over us,” Onyenweaku said.

He appealed to the Abia State Government to call the group to order, noting that autonomous communities were created to accelerate grassroots development, not to foster conflict.

Onyenweaku also requested security presence at the health centre to protect workers who operate round the clock and urged the government to intervene in the rehabilitation of Ahiaeke Primary and Secondary School.