PWDs celebrate as first hearing-impaired monarch emerges in Abia

A hearing impaired person, Eze Anthony Ohaeri, has been crowned as the traditional ruler of Umuawa Alaocha II autonomous community, Ohuhu clan, Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State.

Eze Ohaeri, who is the first son of the former traditional ruler of the community, is a member of the Joint National Association of People Living with Disabilities in Abia State.

Speaking during the ceremony at the Umuawa Alaocha community school, the Special Assistant to the Abia State Governor on Disability matters, Mr David Anyaele, restated the government’s resolve to remove all barrier mitigating against persons with disabilities in the State in order to give them a sense of belonging.

Anyaele also said that the State government had evolved numerous programmes and policies that were aimed at improving the welfare of the citizenry.

Also, Abia State Chairman of Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities, Mr Wisdom Kalu, said that the emergence of Ohaeri as a traditional ruler had demonstrated that every member of the society should be treated as equal.

Kalu described the event as historic and a first of its kind, adding that it was worthy of note that this development had further strengthened the confidence of persons with disabilities in the Abia State.

Speaking shortly after his coronation, the new traditional ruler of Umuawa Alaocha II Autonomous Community, Eze Anthony Ohaeri pledged to adopt an inclusive leadership style to give everyone a sense of belonging and expressed willingness to work with well-meaning individuals and the government for sustained socio-economic growth in the community.

Eze Ohaeri, whose speech was read out by an interpreter, said that he would create platforms to develop the potentials of the indigenes of the community, reduce crime rate to the barest minimum and increase productivity, while also calling for improved government presence in his community.

He appreciated his community and the Abia State government for making it possible for him to become a traditional ruler, regardless of his hearing impairment.