Anambra Guber: People With Disabilities May Vote Uba Afte Being Shunned by others

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By Ifeanyi Okoye
Awka

Over 600,000 people living with disabilities in Anambra State might vote for the Governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Senator Andy Uba in the state November 6 poll if other competitors decline to appease them.

Uba, it was learnt, was the only contestant that attended the interactive forum of gubernatorial candidates organised by the state chapter of Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) with a view to present their charter of demands which include complete implementation of 2018 state Disabilities Right law.

Some of their demands include full implementation of Disability Rights Law 2018 including establishment of Disability Commission, continuous employment of persons with disabilities, allotment of more political offices to PWDs, extension of years of services for PWDs, Social protection programmes for PWDs, Housing Schemes for PWDs, Scholarship for PWDs, and improved healthcare.

Hon. Chukwuemeka Ezeokwuma, a member of Senator Andy Uba team represented him at the event held yesterday in Awka, explaining that he was out of the state for an emergency and would meet with them once back.

However, the seventeen absentee candidates of other political parties who equally did not send in representatives were Prof. Charles Soludo of APGA, Mr Valentine Ozigbo of PDP, Mr Obiora Okonkwo of ZLP, Dr Godwin Maduka of Accord, and Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo of ADC.

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Others were Bennett Etiaba of AA, Dr Chidozie Nwankwo (AAC), Mr Okeke Chika Jerry (Boot Party), Obiora Agbasimelo (Labour Party), Sir Emeka Ohajimkpo (New Nigerian People’s Party), Chief Obinna Uzoh (SDP), Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP), Chief Nnamdi Nwawuo (PRP).

The State Chairman of JONAPWD, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke, who said his office duly sent in official invitations to all the 18 Governorship candidates, regretted that none came in person except Uba that sent in a representative.

“We are not happy that these candidates did not come except Senator Uba, who was represented. But we are not discouraged because we know that this is political period. It may be because the programme was rescheduled after the first date. It is left for our members to choose who to vote during the election.

” The reason why we gathered here is not purposely to make money from the gubernatorial candidates. But for a serious engagement between persons with disabilities and the gubernatorial candidates from various political parties for the forthcoming election in the state which is first of its kinds since the creation of Anambra State.

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” Today, we expect to hear directly from candidates what programmes and policies they have for us including plans towards an inclusive government and an inclusive governance where inclusive government would mean making and implementing policies and programmes whose benefits also considers marginalized groups, inclusive Government on the other hand, implies deliberately involving persons with disabilities from the marginalized group, in positions of government to ensure their involvement in policy formation circles to better drive the implementation of an inclusive society,” Okeke noted.

He recalled that the International Covenant on civil and political rights, United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with disabilities (UNCRPD) Article 29, Nigeria Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2019 and Anambra State Disability Rights Law (2018)where it was clearly stated and expected that political rights of persons with disabilities at all levels shall be guaranteed together with, the opportunity to enjoy them on equal basis with others.

” Secondly, political parties are expected to have a clear policy document for inclusive participation of every members of their party including Persons with Disabilities,” he said. The direct objectives of the programme include to cordial relate with political stakeholders, discuss and have a common understanding on the stakes in an inclusive Government, evaluate all options on the basis of merit to better inform the political choices of the persons with disabilities and mkbilisation of , PWDs to participate actively in the forthcoming election. Secondly, this event will will provide opportunities for all the gubernatorial candidates to inform persons with disabilities in Anambra state what their party has done in the past for PWDs and the plans the gubernatorial candidates have for them as written in their manifestoes.

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He said that with a population of 600,000 they were open to entre into a social contract with leaders and persons of leadership interests on key issues that will guarantee an inclusive and more productive society for all.

Speaking in an interview, Mr Chizoba Okafor, Mr Ezeokafor Ikechukwu, said we they were constrained by the Act to be ote inn candidatemeoji date of.

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