By Chris Agbo
On 20th of June, 2020, we published a story of Emmanuel Onwubariri Chidube which we captioned: “Disability Based Violence: A man with spinal cord injury who was attacked and pushed off his wheelchair by a villager in Imo State sustaining several degrees of injuries, calls for Justice”.
This story went viral and I shared it in the WhatsApp group of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo Persons with Disabilities wing where I am the acting National Publicity Secretary.
The members of the group were touched with the story and they started mobilizing funds to ensure that Justice is done because an injury to one is an injury to all. It is also to serve as a deterrent to all those that will assault a person with disability in future.
As members are raising money for this cause, the leadership of the group set up a team of lawyers and other active members living in Imo state where the incident took place as committee and mandate them to ensure that the culprit is arrested and answer for what he did to one of us who was not even a member at the time when the incident happened.
The committee swang into action and got the police who have not been taking the case serious to act. They petitioned the commission of police of Imo state and the group sponsored the process.
The good news is that the culprit has been arrested and now the police has risen up to their responsibility and the culprit was given 5th of August, 2020 to return in good condition all the properties they wrongly collected from Emmanuel, pay the medical expenses he incurred as a result of the push, and put his damaged wheelchair in good condition or replace it if the damage is irreparable. The police advised the culprit to meet all these conditions by the said date or the case would be taken to court. Ohaneze Ndi Igbo PWDs is already to follow the case to the end.
Our Committee has been wonderful and I know that they are eager and willing to see that never again will anybody assault our members.
Ohaneze Ndi Igbo PWDs exhibited what oneness can bring in the lives of persons with disabilities. The group showed love and commitment to ensure Justice is served, the case has not been concluded but I foresee victory at the end. Longlive Ohaneze Ndi Igbo PWDs for this kindness, God bless every member of the group.
The Ohaneze Ndi Igbo PWDs led by The Acting National President Oparaku onyejelam Jaja a physically challenged from Imo state is a socio-cultural group of Igbo Origin whose membership are all Igbos with disabilities in Nigeria and diaspora to propagate the welfare and rights of the members whereby contributing to the social, economic and cultural development of Igbos.
THE VISIONThe vision is to build a world class community where all igbo PWDs will be connected by our culture, tradition, trust and one love with the aims of advocating for inclusive participation at all levels.
MISSION1,. To advocate for domestication of UNCRPWD and Nigerian disability law in Igbo land.
2, To strive to become an arm of oheneze ndi igbo
3,Seek assistance and support to empower talented and needy PWDs
GOALS1, Organize workshops/ seminars
2, Peace and conflict resolution
3, Partner with donor agencies for assistance in collaboration
4, Source funding to build rehabilitation centers with special schools
5, Rotation of leadership in the Nigerian disability struggle such as JONAPWD , POLITICS, AND SPORTS etc…
6, Adopting millennium/sustainable development.
For your inputs and contributions.
Let’s make the future accessible to all of us and PWDs to come.
Thanks to everyone one here present and especially those in diaspora.
Onye ahara nwanne ya ( be your brothers keeper) as a team we can do better
Agbo Christian Obiora, The Executive Director, The Qualitative Magazine and Ohaneze Ndi Igbo PWDs Acting National Publicity Secretary.
