By Emmanuel Agbo, Abakaliki
The Executive Chairman of Abakaliki Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Hon. Chidiebere Onyemaechi Alo, has pledged to prioritise the welfare and inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) and youths in the administration of the council.
Alo made the commitment when the leadership of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Abakaliki Local Government chapter, paid him a courtesy visit at the council headquarters in Nkaliki.
The council chairman said his administration would work with persons with disabilities to identify areas where the council could assist in improving their livelihoods and participation in local affairs.
He said the council would give attention to the association's requests for welfare assistance and other interventions aimed at easing the challenges confronting its members.
Alo also encouraged members of JONAPWD to remain united and promote peace among themselves, stressing that cooperation and peaceful coexistence were important to the advancement of their welfare.
He urged the association to support the re-election bid of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru in the 2027 general elections, saying continued support for the governor would enable the people to benefit from his administration's programmes.
Earlier, the State Chairman of JONAPWD, Mr Christian Nwovu, congratulated Alo on his election and successful swearing-in as chairman of the council, describing his emergence as “a round peg in a round hole.”
Nwovu explained that the delegation visited the chairman to formally inform him of the association's presence and activities in Abakaliki LGA.
He appealed to the council chairman to consider providing the association with monthly subvention, welfare packages, office accommodation and appointments for qualified members of the association.
He said such measures would help address some of the difficulties confronting persons with disabilities in the local government.
Nwovu also assured the council chairman of the association's support and pledged to mobilise its members in support of Governor Nwifuru's 2027 re-election bid.
In a related development, Alo charged presidents of village youth associations across Abakaliki LGA to promote peace, unity and security in their respective communities.
Addressing the youth leaders at the council headquarters, the chairman warned them against actions capable of causing violence, saying development could not thrive in an atmosphere of rancour and insecurity.
Alo announced plans to convene a meeting involving all village youth presidents to strengthen collaboration and ensure that the peace agenda of the state government was taken to the grassroots.
He urged the youth leaders to use their positions to discourage violence and mobilise young people towards peaceful coexistence and community development.
The chairman further expressed his readiness to work with the youth association and assist it in areas that would advance peace and security across the local government.
The Coordinator of the association, Onuoha David, thanked Alo for receiving the delegation and assured him of the association's cooperation.
He appealed to the chairman to involve the youths in programmes and activities of the council, saying the association would continue to work with his administration.
The council chairman also received the leadership of the Abakaliki Youths Parliament, led by its Speaker, Hon. Sunday Nwoba, during a solidarity visit.
Nwoba appealed to the chairman to give legislative backing to the activities of the youths parliament.
He also informed the chairman of the parliament's plan to embark on grassroots voter-card sensitisation across communities in Abakaliki LGA to encourage residents to participate in the electoral process and exercise their civic rights on election day.
