From: Obinna Odogwu, Abakaliki

Technical Assistant to Governor David Umahi on People with Disabilities and Information Communication Technology (ICT), Parkins Uzor, on Tuesday, petitioned the state’s House of Assembly over alleged plot by people with disabilities to shut down the state with protest.

The petition, read out by the Chairman, House’s adhoc committee set up to look into the matter, Hon. Frank Onwe, alleged that some named members of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) plotted to lead protest against Ebonyi State Government on series of issues bothering on poor welfare.

“I want to express my feelings with total dismay over the incessant harassment and harassment of the public by the members of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Ebonyi State chapter.

“On 3rd December, 2016, one Mr Desmond (surname withheld) in collaboration with other members of JONAPWD planned a protest to block Government House gate and cause breakdown of law and other in the state.

“On 3rd January, 2017, same persons planned again, to create chaos and cause rampage in the state capital, Abakaliki” it added.

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All the accused persons who were present at the meeting denied the allegation. But a former Caretaker Committee Public Relations Officer, Mr Sunday Nwachukwu, told the lawmakers that series of problems was fuelled by a squabble over N2.5 million largesse given to them by Governor Umahi.

“On 27th December, 2016, the physically challenged persons visited the Governor David Umahi in his residence. He gave us the sum of N2 million for our Christmas celebration but those who attended the gathering shared the money among themselves with each of them getting N8,000 with two bags of rice each.

“Over N500,000 remained. But instead of extending that to other physically challenged persons who were not there, some members started wrangling over it.

“Before that N2 million naira was shared, one of them said that he must be given N100,000 before the N2 million would be shared otherwise he would not agree. His request upset some members and they started quarrelling over it.

“Later at the Women’s Development Centre, they shared the remaining N500, 000+ with each person getting about N30,000 each. I was there but I didn’t collect any money from them. That fuelled these series of problems.

“When our election day drew closer, the SSA to Gov. Umahi on Religion and Welfare Matters, Rev. Fr. Abraham Nwali, graciously approved the sum of N200,000 for us. On the day of the congress, Election Committee was nominated. But series of stories trailed what happened to the money,” he narrated.