Special Adviser to Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State, Barr. Chuks Ezewuzie has clarified malicious reports published on social media by a disgruntled element that he received palliatives meant for all persons with disabilities (PWDs).
The report also alleged that he had distributed to some groups of people with disabilities while leaving out other groups of people with disabilities.
But in a statement he personally signed, Ezewuzie said that he received 135 bags of different kilogrammes of rice and other palliatives for Anambrians with disabilities.
He explained that the palliatives are meant for the deaf, blind and physically challenged groups drawn from the 21 Local Government Areas of Anambra state and that the palliatives he received are not meant for the sickle cell, orphanages groups and the rehabilitation centres.
He added that the State APGA Chairman, Sir Nobert Obi has the information on orphanage allocation.
From APGA Anambra State, Ezewuzie listed that he received 34 bags of rice =15 bags of 5kg, 19 bags of 10kg, 1 bag of 50kg, bottles of hand sanitizers and 6 cartons of noodles.
He said 100 bags of 10kg rice was also recieved from Governor Obiano through the Commissioner for Local Government.
Ezewuzie said that the State Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) has made satisfactory arrangement for equitable distribution via their existing structures of the Disability community through their designated coordinators in the 21 Local Government Areas.
“Please note that we have made no distribution to any individual or group of persons other than the arrangement made by the leaders of the Anambra disability community comprising of the Deaf, the blind and the physically challenged groups, through their duly elected representatives.”
“We remain grateful and profoundly thankful to His Excellency Chief Dr. Sir Willie M.Obiano (OGUGUA NDI OLUSI) and the able National Chairman of APGA Chief Dr Ike Oye (Ozonkpu) for remembering the vulnerable group at this trying time,” he said.
Ezewuzie, in the statement also called on other public spirited individuals and philantropic organisations to remember persons with Disabilities in their kind gestures as government alone can not do it given the population of persons with disabilities needing assistance
He listed the number of PWDs in each local government as follows:
1. Aguata – 79
2. Anambra East – 50
3. Anambra West – 114
4. Anaocha -117
5. Awka North – 57
6. Awka South – 118
7. Ayamelum – 31
8. Dunukofia – 107
9. Ekwusigo-109
10. Idemili North – 68
11. Idemili South -38
12. Ihiala -79
13. Njikoka – 105
14. Nnewi North – 76
15. Nnewi South -63
16. Ogbaru – 30
17. Onitsha North – 61
18. Onitsha South -28
19. Orumba North -107
20. Orumba South -97
21. Oyi – 44.
“Approximately over one thousand, five hundred persons with disabilities needing our intervention.
“All donations should go to the state COVID -19 Action committee through the secretary to state government( SSG) government house Awka. Please,designate your contribution/donation for “Disability Community,” he said.