PLWDs threaten as Anambra guber candidates shun debate

• Obi canvasses support for Ozigbo
• Oduah promises to deliver north senatorial zone to APC

Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) have expressed anger over the seeming neglect and absence of the 18 gubernatorial candidates jostling to participate in the November 6, 2021 election at a debate.

The PLWDs, under the aegis of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPID), Anambra State chapter, did not hide their angst over the botched interactive forum of the association with the 18 governorship candidates.

Speaking on the occasion in Awka, the state capital, where JONAPID unveiled its charter of demands, the state chairman, Ugochukwu Okeke, said members of the association, who are eligible voters numbering about 400,000, would use their block vote to determine who emerges as the governor.

He said the Charter, among other things, demands full implementation of the Anambra State 2018 Disability Rights Law, including establishment of a commission, continuous employment of PLWDs, allotment of more political offices to PLWDs, extension of years of services for PLWDs by five more years, introduction of social protection programmes, housing schemes, scholarship and improved healthcare.

Also speaking, members of JONAPWD, Chizoba Okafor, Mr. Ikechukwu Ezeokafor and Miss Nkechi Obi, described the boycott of the debate as unfortunate and negligence on the part of the candidates despite the media hype given to the event.

MEANWHILE, former governor of the state, Peter Obi, has declared that Valentine Ozigbo is the best-suited and more-energised candidate to govern the state.

Obi recalled that he was able to deliver on the mandate as the governor in his youthful age below 50 years. This was the contention of Obi, yesterday, when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Local Government Campaign Council continued its campaign tour of Idemili North, Idemili South and Dunukofia local councils.

The former governor said his tenure as the governor saw Anambra State as a development reference point in all sectors of life.

He also said that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and All Progressives Congress (APC) were no threats to the bid of the PDP to occupy the seat of power at Agu-Awka come March 2021.

In his welcome address, Ozigbo noted that the 2023 presidential election is the basis for determination of the serious contending parties, stressing that at the national level, only APC and PDP are major contenders while others are mere pretenders.

IN another development, the senator representing Anambra North Senatorial Zone, Stella Oduah, has assured to deliver the district to the APC.

Oduah, who gave the promise at an APC leaders and stakeholders’ meeting in Awka, said necessary arrangement had been put on ground to claim victory for the party.