Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu
Center for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has appealed to Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu not to leave Abians with disabilities behind in the distribution of palliatives to less privileged residents of the State.
Executive Director, David Anyaele in a statement released on Tuesday acknowledged that Persons with Disabilities are the worst hit as a result of the lockdown occasioned by Covid-19 pandemic.
It was learnt that the State Government will from today begin the distribution of bags of rice, beans, garri, tubers of yam as well as sanitizers and face masks to less privileged residents of the State.
“This appeal is very important as Abia State has a history of discrimination, exclusion, stigmatization and isolation of Abians with disabilities in democratic governance.
“To understand how bad the situation of Abians with disabilities is, it might interest you to know that the former Abia State Governor denied assent to Abia State Disability Bill, an indirect endorsement of harmful practices against more than 600,000 Abians with disabilities.
“For the past 3 years, no Abian with sight impairment has been sent to Nigeria Farm Craft Centre for the Blind for rehabilitation by the State Government. Whereas, other States are taking their slots by sending their blind citizens to the centre for rehabilitation,” Anyaele said.
Anyaele said the concern of the group arose from the fact that the Governor explained the strategy that would be adopted for the distribution of the relief items which include groups and association but was silent on organizations of persons with disabilities.
“This has been the pattern of exclusion and isolation of Abians with disabilities in democratic governance in Abia State since its foundation,” he said.
The Executive Director said the CCD would be monitoring the extent of access and inclusion of Abians with disabilities in the distribution of these relief materials.
“It is our interest to document and disseminate our findings to local and international organisations working on democratic governance, international development co-operation, human rights and disability issues with the view of attracting policy attention to the long neglected issue of the rights of persons with disabilities,” he added.