Members of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities, JONAPWD, South East and South South geopolitical zones have unanimously adopted Dr. Stanley Nwachukwu as its consensus candidate for the coveted position of National President of the association in the forth coming election.
This was disclosed during a special meeting held at Felina Hotels, Umuahia, Abia State, on Tuesday 11th October, 2022, by members of JONAPWD.
Speaking during the crucial meeting, the South East Zonal Coordinator of JONAPWD, Comrade Wisdom Kanu Okechukwu disclosed that the two geopolitical zones which were part of the old Eastern Region have come together to form a formidable political bloc that would guarantee Dr. Nwachukwu’s victory in the national Presidential election coming up on 26th November, 2022.
Comrade Kanu described Dr. Nwachukwu as the only man who has the capacity to win the coveted position of national president in the JONAPWD election in the entire southern part of Nigeria. He recalled how Nwachukwu won the previous presidential election in 2014 before it was manipulated by desperate politicians.
He also expressed readiness to work together with the PWDs community of the South West to achieve collective victory.
His words: “It is our turn to produce the next National President of JONAPWD and Dr. Nwachukwu has garnered support of northerners. We are still urging the northerners not to disappoint us so as to create room for equity, justice and fairness in JONAPWD”.
“So, we are throwing our weights to support our own brother”, he stated.
Okechukwu’s counterpart from South South, Comrade Ernest Igbuzor stated that “his zone has no option than to form an alliance with the S/East in voting in the next national president of the association in the forth coming election.”
He equally described Dr. Nwachukwu as the only candidate eminently qualified for the job.
Igbuzor said: “from all indications, Nwachukwu is well prepared for the election and, if elected, has good packages in store for Persons with Disabilities across the country.”
In separate speeches, the State chairmen of Anambra and Enugu State chapters of JONAPWD, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke and Mba Onyebuchi commended Dr. Nwachukwu for his doggedness in fighting a just cause for the disabled community. They both noted that the JONAPWD presidential aspirant has the wealth of experience that can put a stop to the challenges of the association if elected as president.
On his part, Dr. Stanley Nwachukwu disclosed that he had earlier consulted critical stakeholders of the association from the northern part of the country who agreed to support his presidential ambition having ensured them that there is peace in the association by withdrawing a pending case of his 2018 election victory from court.
INN reports that the Imo-born business mogul used the opportunity availed by the stakeholders meeting to unveil his manifesto. This, INN learnt contains action plans on how to right the wrongs in the association.
Contents of Dr Nwachukwu’s manifesto as examined by our correspondent revealed plans to capture “data base of JONAPWD members which shall be undertaken for job opportunities and skill acquisition programmes, plans for strengthening relationship between State branches and the National JONAPWD headquarters, paradigm shifts, better funding of the association, gender harmonization, and housing and sport activities for Persons with Disabilities.
It would be recalled that Dr. Nwachukwu’s ambition has gotten Governor Hope Uzodimma’s nod – an added advantage for Dr. Nwachukwu’s candidacy.
It was also gathered that participants had opportunity to air their views and deliberate on topical issues affecting development of PWDs in the two zones and the country at large.
Some takeaways from the crucial meeting, INN reports include the need for JONAPWD members to unite forces to ensure that the Disability Bill is passed into law in every State of the Federation. Also emphasized was the need for Persons with Disabilities to continue working together towards achieving a common goal.
Other pertinent issues highlighted were the issue of sustaining regular meetings of South East/South South JONAPWD zones, creation of a whatsApp platform for effective communication between the two zones, inclusive involvement of JONAPWD in the circular politics of Nigeria, among others.
Stakeholders of the association present at the meeting were Comrade Wisdom Kanu Okechukwu who doubles as Abia State Chairman and South East Zonal Coordinator of JONAPWD, Comrade Ernest Igbuzor, Delta State Chairman and South South Zonal Coordinator of the Union, Comrade Ugochukwu Okeke (Anambra Chairman).
Others are Mba Onyebuchi (Enugu Chairman), Chieme Odumegwu Franklin (Ebonyi State Chairman), Barr. Okey Kanu (former SSA to Abia Government on Special Citizens), Hon. Clinton Chinonyerem Amaechi (Imo State), Comrade Udensi Ekene (Imo State), etc.