PWDs warn Rivers PDP not to sideline them

Brave Dickson

Persons living with disabilities in Rivers State have condemned recent state PDP rallies in Eleme, Tai among other LGAs which they said did not include them.

The physically changed persons who made their displeasure known on Friday at a meeting with the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Nyesom Wike on Physically Challenged Matters, Itekenna Altraide wondered why despite being PDP members, they were not being carried along.

They particularly accused local government chairmen of not providing logistics to enable them to participate in PDP rallies, threatening to do otherwise if sidelining them continues.

In his response, the SSA to the governor urged the aggrieved physically challenged members of the Peoples Democratic Party to stay calm and avoid actions that would negatively affect the victory chances of the party in the forthcoming elections, adding that their issues will be addressed amicably.

“I understand what you meant by being sideline as a physically challenged person like you too. Please, don’t allow such to weaken your faith in the party. The governor of the state loves us and much interested in the welfare of the physically challenged in the state. I can assure you that he is not aware of your displeasure. I will take it up to the appropriate authority of our great party, “Altraide said.

Speaking with the physically challenged PDP coordinators for Rivers West and South East Senatorial districts, Deboss Odums and Pius Barikume said, “they have been urging us to go and get our PVCs. Now that we have go it, they are not carrying us along. They will organize events of our party within our jurisdictions and they will not notify us. We are not happy.”

Physically challenged persons who for some time now have not been involved in politics because they felt were taking advantage of have come out determined this time to actively involved in partisan politics.

For Rivers State, the appointment of a physically challenged person as Senior Special Assistant to the state governor as well as the creation of an office to handle physically challenged matters have to some extent help increased their interest in politics.