Protesting physically challenged persons arrested for blocking highway

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA
ASABA — THE gridlock caused by protesting physically challenged persons in Asaba, Monday afternoon, did not abate until about midnight when the police arrested and moved them to the state police command headquarters for what they described as “protective custody.”

Until then, the protesting persons with disabilities vowed not to leave the highway.

[caption id="attachment_402805" align="alignnone" width="412"] The physically challenged persons during the protest, yesterday. PHOTO: NATH ONOJAKE[/caption]

Most of the stranded road users had to pass the night in hotels in Asaba while some others managed to continue their journey after the road was cleared by midnight.

Some of the motorists diverted through Ibusa and Okpanam exit routes.

State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Lucky Uyabeme told reporters that “the highway was eventually cleared.

"They have their grievances for coming to the road. They said they want to see the governor so that they would explain their plight to him. The road has been cleared and I can say they have achieved their aim because the governor said he would see them today (Tuesday). Some of their executives have been selected and they are on their way to Warri to see the governor.

“What is clear is that they were not arrested but just moved away to clear the road. It is a federal highway and nobody has the power to block it but the police were so tactical in removing them from the road so that there would be free flow of traffic. They were not arrested, they are in protective custody.”

Asked if the police would be pressing any charges against them, the PPRO said: “For now no charge until after the meeting with the governor.”

The Asaba/Benin highway was blocked at the Summit junction, Asaba, Monday, between 2 p.m and midnight, preventing movement of vehicles from both sides of the road.

61 persons paraded for cultism

Meantime, a total of 61 persons made up of men and women were paraded Tuesday at the Delta State police headquarters for cultism.

According to the PPRO, “32 male and 10 female suspected hoodlums were arrested on July 5, 2013 by detectives from the State CID Asaba when they raided a criminal hideout at Spotlight Club along Asaba/Agbor expressway, Asaba following a tip-off.

Also, two days after, following a tip-off SARS operatives at Asaba stormed Dester Hotel, Nnebisi Road and other locations in the state capital and arrested nine female and 20 male cultists who are alleged to be members of Neo Black Movement of Africa  a.k.a Black Axe who gathered to celebrate their anniversary.”

Some of the arrested persons protested during the parade, saying they were picked up while having fun in the club.

 

Gridlock as persons with disabilities block Asaba/Benin highway

BY AUSTIN OGWUDA
ASABA — PERSONS with disabilities in Delta State, yesterday, blocked the Asaba/Benin highway, causing gridlock for hours. They were protesting  alleged neglect by the state government.

As a result of the protest, some motorists were stranded as both sides of the road were barricaded.

[caption id="attachment_402805" align="alignnone" width="412"] The physically challenged persons during the protest, yesterday. PHOTO: NATH ONOJAKE[/caption]

Chairman of the Association of Persons with Disabilities in the state, Mr. Isaac Obruche, who led the operation vowed that his members would remain under the sun or rain to press home their demands.

According to him, “we embarked on this having failed to have an audience with the governor since his assumption of office and several issues affecting us have not been addressed.

Their demands

“The issues are free medical health care for persons with disabilities; our bill to establish a commission for persons with disabilities in the Delta State House of Assembly is lying there unaddressed; we have the issue of SURE-P in the state in which persons with disabilities were totally excluded at state and local government levels in Delta.

“As I speak, it is only the chairman of Ndokwa East council that has released N1.5 million to empower our people in that locality. The remaining 24 councils have done nothing regarding the SURE-P.

“Also, the Ministry of Health has not attended to applications from our members for the past two years and as a matter of fact we lost five of them last year. There are some of them with very sympathetic situations that had applied for medical attention but not granted. All efforts to meet with the Commissioner for Health has proved abortive, different messages to his cell phone have not been attended to.

“In the transport sector, in Lagos for example,  issues of transportation of persons with disabilities have been addressed and they also have a scheme where persons with disabilities are employed to earn a living. We also have members who are graduates here.

“Of course we have confidence in the governor, no doubt he is a listening governor but the problem we are having here is that those that are representing us are not doing what they are supposed to do.

What do you make out of an able bodied person being a Special Adviser to the governor on Physically Challenge matters? The rehabilitation department of the ministry of women affairs where we fall under is under the management of person who is not physically challenged.

“We have persons with disabilities in the civil service. Will it be out of place if one of them is in charge of that office? All efforts to see that the issues are addressed have proved abortive. Countless letters seeking audience with the governor have not yielded fruit.

“Now that we have come here, the only thing that would make us to leave this place is when the governor comes here to address us.”

The Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Mr. Ovuozourie Macaulay later addressed them and pacified them to leave the highway as government would address the issues raised. However, they were still there at press time.