Anambra gubernatorial candidates shun meeting with persons with disabilities

Anambra State chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAWPD),  Ugochukwu Okeke, on Tuesday, said over 400,000 members of the association were expected to vote in the forthcoming November 6, 2021 governorship election in the state.

Okeke, announced this during an interactive session of gubernatorial candidates and persons with disabilities, held at St Mathew Catholic Church conference hall, Amowbia, in Awka South Council Area of the state.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the participants went back home disappointed, as all the governorship candidates shunned the invitation, except All Progressives Congress (APC), guber candidate, Senator Andy Uba, who sent a representative, Chukwuemaka Ezeukoma, with a promising note.

Okeke, in his address, explained that “the reason we are gathered here is not purposely to make money from the gubernatorial candidates, but for a serious engagement between persons with disabilities and the candidates from various political parties ahead of the election in the state. We expect to hear directly from the candidates what programmes and policies they have for persons with disabilities, including plans towards an inclusive government and inclusive governance.

“But to our greatest surprise, only Andy Uba of the All Progressives Congress (APC), sent a representative. Others did not show up despite our official invitation to their various offices. This is sad.

“Disabilities community will not be happy to see their involvement in governance to drop down against the high level of engagement initiated by the present administration with persons with disabilities.”

Okeke recalled 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, that state 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. 

He added that political parties were expected to have a clear policy document for inclusive participation of every member of the party including persons with disabilities.

He disclosed that “over 400,000 persons with disabilities in Anambra State have decided that their votes must count in the forthcoming election and as a result are looking for a candidate that has an inclusive plan that will continue to see issues of persons with disabilities from the angle of rights instead of charity.

“We appeal to politicians in the country to always includes persons with disabilities in their political activities and not to judge us as second class citizens.”

A participant, Mr Chizuba Okafor, who also fell disappointed over the development, appealed to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), civil society organisations, religious leaders, traditional rulers and other concerned individuals to rise against the political marginalised mechanism of the Nigerian political leaders towards Persons with Disabilities in the country.

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