The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the National Commission For Persons Living with Disabilities, Hon. Ayuba Gufwan, says that Governor Alex Otti is the champion of the disabilities community in Nigeria.
Hon. Ayuba Gufwan was speaking on behalf of his colleagues when they paid a working visit to Governor Alex Otti in the State. He commended the Governor for his friendly disposition toward persons living with disabilities and appreciated the fact that the Governor established a commission for persons with disabilities in Abia state.
“We are deeply appreciative that upon your assumption of office, you established the Abia State equivalent of the National Commission of Persons with Disabilities.
“I commend you and express the heartfelt appreciation of the 35 million persons living with disabilities in Nigeria. We say thank you for what you have done for us”.
He said that they were in Abia to appeal to the Governor to provide them with a facility that would be used as Southeast Zonal office of the National Commission for Persons Living with Disabilities, adding that Abia was chosen because it is hospitable.
“There is no place that is as hospitable to persons with disabilities in this region other than Abia State and that is why we are here.
“We are 35 million and we don’t have an office anywhere other than the office in Abuja and so, it is very difficult to administer this huge number from one location.
“So, people in the Southeastern part of Nigeria who need our services can just access our zonal office,” Gufwan stated.
Responding, Governor Alex Otti said that his Government does not discriminate against persons living with disabilities or any other group, including people of different religious inclinations or tribes.
“Our Government is a Government that does not discriminate against persons living with disabilities, we don’t discriminate against women, we don’t discriminate against people because of their religious beliefs nor because of where they come from.
“That is why we pride ourselves as the first State in recent times that appointed a Head of Service who is not from Abia nor from the Southeast but is from the South South.
It is because we are focused on meritocracy without discrimination”, Gov. Otti stated.
The Governor, who encouraged persons living with disabilities, noted that, that someone has one disability or the other does not make him a disabled person. Governor Otti, on the spot, acceded to their request to be provided a place for them to set up their Southeast headquarters in Abia state.
“I want you to leave here convinced, knowing fully well that we have not only heard but we have approved it.
“As you leave here, my Special Assistant on Persons Living with Disabilities will liaise with the Director General of Umuahia Capital Development Authority and Commissioner for Lands and Housing to identify a befitting office for the Southeast Zone of the council.
“So, I am sure that in the next two or three months, your office will relocate to that place, and you (Ayuba) will be invited back to be handed over to the Southeastern Zonal office,” Gov. Otti assured.
