– As Nwachukwu Expresses Delight
The Imo state Chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons With Disability, JONAPWD, held a successful, credible and hitch free election in Owerri last weekend. The election produced the following officials to preside over the affairs of the association for the next four years: Barr. Ekwelem Chidubem Uzodimma, Chairman, Nnadi Wisdom Ndugba, Vice Chairman 1, Kingsley Uwakwe—Vice Chairman 2, Onuchukwu Stanley —Secretary, Immaculate Achinihu—Assistant Secretary, Gideon Okoroafor—-Social Welfare, Edith Ukaegbu—-Sports Secretary, Ejike Ekemonye—planning / Organizing Officer, Uwalaka Ikechukwu Dandy— Financial Secretary, Vivian Ozurumba—Treasurer, Ozoemena Victor O—-Chief Whip, Ekene Udensi—-Okigwe Zonal Co-ordinator and Emeka Achiga—- Publicity Secretary.
The election in which all the officials emerged unopposed except the Publicity Secretary was witnessed by the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Vulnerable Group, Hon. Nkechinyere Ugwu, Security Operatives and some Imo based Journalists.
The election which was conducted through delegate representation (5 delegates from each LGA) commenced at about 12.p.m and ended at 2.30pm, with the elected officials duly sworn- in by Barr. Uzor Enwere at about 4.15pm.
Expressing her opinion about the election, the Commissioner For Women Affairs and Vulnerable Group, Hon. Nkechinyere Ugwu, described it as a very successful and hitch free exercise, adding that she was very delighted about it.
She described the election of the new Imo JONAPWD executive as a right step towards restoring peace, harmony and love among one another in the disabled community, pointing out that the governor would be impressed with the peaceful outcome.
In a similar contribution, the immediate past Chairman of Imo JONAPWD, Dr. Stanley Nwachukwu, expressed gladness over his presence at the election which he described as a ‘special day’ within the Imo disabled Community, considering the level of internal crises that previously enveloped the association, which according to him, has ended with the just concluded election and its successful and peaceful outcome.
Nwachukwu further noted that the history of the return of peace and unity in the community of the disabled will not be complete without mentioning the wonderful contributions of the National Executive members of JONAPWD through the Zonal Coordinators, which culminated in the conduct of a credible and transparent election.
The outgoing JONAPWD Chairman assured that he will continue to guide and direct the new executive of Imo JONAPWD as a constitutionally approved ex-officio member to ensure that they don’t make some mistakes he made in the past as a leader.
He used the opportunity to thank the state government and also ask for the creation of waivers for employment opportunities to qualified JONAPWD graduate members and others to enable them take care of their respective families.
In his post-victory speech, the new chairman of Imo JONAPWD, Barr. Chidubem Uzodimma Ekwelem, said that his emergence via an election marks the true return of change, unity, peace and harmony in the association.
Ekwelem maintained that his pedigree made some of their members to drop their ambitions and lend their support to him which brought about his emergence as chairman unopposed without any form of inducement.
He assured his members of the determination of the new executive to embark on three major things which include, the restoration of the dignity and respect of the physically challenged in the state, collection of the fair share of their members from the government and other appropriate authorities and the sensitization in all nooks and crannies about the existence of the Disability Act which compulsorily encourages every physically challenged person to receive 5% income, stressing that he will not relent in its propagation.
Barr. Ekwelem also stated that he will reactivate all the structures of JONAPWD at the Local government levels, making them to serve as the only avenue for the identification of members irrespective of their status.
He reaffirmed his resolve to pay courtesy calls to all the LGA chairmen with his team for proper introduction and partnership.
He also assured that he would make the constitution his working document to stabilize the disabled community.
In the same vein, the Electoral Committee Chairman, Mr. Ugoenyi Kenneth, expressed happiness over his ability to conduct a free, fair and credible election with the help of God.
He added that all the strata of JONAPWD comprising the Albinism, Deaf/Dumb, Spinal Cord injuries, the blind and the physical were fully represented in the executive structure.
In his own submission, the Okigwe zonal Co-ordinator and the JONAPWD National Sports Secretary, Comrade Udensi Ekene, admitted that the election elicited great jubilation in the Disabled Community of over 7,000 persons because of the elimination of the previously experienced crises through the emergence of the new JONAPWD leadership in the state”.
