By Justice Nwafor
The apex body of persons living with disabilities in Imo state – Joint National Association of Persons With Disability (JONAPWD) – has described as baseless, ill-conceived and a blatant lie the rumour making rounds that Imo State government has neglected the physically challenged in the state.
The association said the rumour is politically motivated and remains a figment in the imagination of the perpetrators, averring that the Rochas Okorocha led government has been fair to the physically challenged in the state.
JONAPWD state executives disclosed this in Owerri on Wednesday during a chat with newsmen.
The President General, Hon. Bright Uzoma, while speaking, described those behind the rumour as enemies of the association, which he said, has been enjoying a smooth relationship with the state government.
He revealed that members of the association were the first to benefit from the Governor’s magnanimity in 2012, when more than 54 of them were employed, and are still working in the state, assuring those who have not been employed that the government is doing everything possible to employ them.
“They were sponsored. They only want to spoil the good relationship we have with Owelle Rochas Okorocha, the executive Governor of Imo State. Who is talking about neglect? The governor has employed our members and has been exceptionally good to us.
After the employment of 2012, leadership crisis erupted. Then Barr Mrs Ngozi Njoku waded in and helped resolve the crisis. In December 2016 she helped organise elections in the association and since then it has been progress all the way. The governor recently appointed one of us as his executive assistant on special citizens. So I don’t understand the neglect they are talking about,” he said.
He, however, blamed the delay in employing some of the members on lag in submitting the list of members to the government, revealing that the ministry of gender affairs and social development only received the list about a week ago.
Also speaking, the secretary general of the association, Comr. Jude Chukky said the concerns of the blind among them are being addressed by the state government.
He, however, blamed the leadership crisis, which rocked the association during the tenures of the past executives, as why the association did not achieve much in the past. He went ahead to assure all the members that the present administration has their interest at heart, always. “I advice all our members to be appreciative of the government while also being patient because the government is working assiduously to carry the special citizens along, always”, the secretary general said.
