Initiative for Eradication of Poverty and Empowerment of the Disabled (IFEPED has forwarded petition to The Executive Secretary of State Emergency Management Agency( SEMA) Enugu State, alleging that Samuel Obiefuna hijacked palliatives donated by state government to persons with disabilities.
See below the full content of the letter as it was sent to qualitativemagazine@yahoo.com.
Initiative for Eradication of Poverty and Empowerment of the Disabled (IFEPED)17/23 Ogui Road, Enugu.
The Executive SecretaryState Emergency Management Agency(SEMA) Enugu3rd Floor, Abuja BuildingGovernment House, Enugu.
Sir,
FORWARDING A PETITION ON THE HIJACKED PALLIATIVES, STATE GOVERNMENT DONATED TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES IN THE STATE BY ONE SAMUEL OBIEFUNA.
In keeping with the determination/disposition of the Enugu State Government under the able leadership of His Excellency, Rt Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to continue to protect lives and property of the citizens and give succor to the people living with disabilities(PWD), we sincerely wish to appreciate/thank the Governor for the palliatives donated to PWD in the state to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic now ravaging the world.
It is also noteworthy and commendable the ingenuity and resilience of the state government to contain the spread of the virus in the state. May God continue to bless all these good works.
Sir, it is our pleasure at this juncture to use this medium to introduce the above named Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) IFEPED, formed and registered under the Corporate Affairs Commission to champion the course of people with disabilities and indigent citizens in Nigeria and South East in particular.
Therefore, the purpose of this letter, subject matter above is to forward the petition by a person with disability, Mr Ugwu Osmond O. from Udenu LGA on how one Mr Obiefuna Samuel and his Cohorts hijacked the palliatives donated to the PWD in the state and purported to have distributed them to the people concerned.
Our investigations and from what we read in the media to be specific the Tuesday, 14th April,2020 edition of the Sun Newspaper(see attached) showed that the state government through the office of the SPA to the Governor on Education handed over large quantities of palliatives to PWD in the state at a ceremony in Udenu LGA. On further investigation, we were made to understand that Mr Obiefuna Samuel and his Cohorts received the items on behalf of the PWDs in the state and claimed to have distributed them to the PWD.
Unfortunately and regrettably too, from that day till now, IFEPED Office had been inundated with oral complaints and written petitions by PWD from almost all the LGAs in the state including one Mr Osmond O. Ugwu against Mr Obiefuna on how the hijacked items were distributed and we are certain that less than 20% of the PWD in the state received the palliatives.
We are constrained to note with regret that this very good intention of our dear Governor, Rt Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to assist the PWD in the state during this hard times occasioned by COVID-19 was poorly handled by Mr Obiefuna for his selfish interest.
It is therefore our appeal/ request that you use your highly respected office to carry out proper investigation on the contents of this petition attached with a view to finding out why Mr Obiefuna hijacked the palliatives meant for PWD in the state and to compel him to account or explain modalities used in the purported distribution of the items.
We also find it difficult to understand why the authority in charge of this very important programme of government failed or was unable to use people that are transparent or true representative of PWD in the state to handle this distributions.
Such important assignment of government should not be given to very dubious person like Mr Obiefuna who diverted transport business given to him to manage by Very Rev. Msgr. Prof. Johnbosco Akam from Uga, Anambra State for the betterment of lives of people living with disabilities in Enugu State some years ago. Any one in doubt of this business venture between Rev Fr. Akam and Mr Obiefuna can cross check with our Spiritual Director and Archbishop of Enugu Eccl. Province/Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Enugu.
We therefore humbly submit the attached petition for your investigation and necessary action with a view:*To ensuring that PWD in the state received what is due to them from government.*To stop further business/ transaction in the future with Mr Obiefuna in any matter concerning PWD in the state because of his dubious character.
We have every confidence that our letter and the attached petition will receive a formidable treatment.
Yours for the betterment of PWD,
Ugwu Victor Clifford, President.
Mrs Kate Chinyere Onovoh, Secretary.
Cc:*His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi,Governor Enugu State.*The ALGON Chairman Enugu State.*The SPA to Governor Ugwuanyi on Education.
