Yenagoa—On Saturday, 16 October 2021, the Bayelsa State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held her state congress to elect new executive members of the party.
Expectedly, due to the indispensable role played by persons living with disabilities in the party, a slot was given to them to produce a member of the state executive.
After a highly contested, free and fair electoral process, Mr. Austin Jonah popularly known as Sanko, emerged as Chairman of physically challenged members of the party.
Jonah who hails from Beletiama community in Brass local government area, in an exclusive interview with mangrovepen.ng, thanked leaders and members of the party for their overwhelming support.
“I feel so privileged to serve the people of the state under the platform of the biggest and most democratic party in this part of Africa, and not just the people of Bayelsa but special people of our society called the persons living with disability (physically challenged).
“I am most grateful to the leaders of our party and the delegates who voted through the ballots at the state congress to give me the mandate to serve,” he said.
He reeled out programs he hopes to execute for persons living with disabilities in the party.
His words: “First of all, I will commence the collation of data of all the persons living with disability in the state not just members of our party.
“When we have their data, we will know where to place them in the scheme of things. I am very much aware that there are many areas they can explore their talents.
“We will help them actualise their dreams through the various social intervention programmes of government through the party.
“For the ones in school be it graduate or undergraduate we will also see how they can be assisted to reduce the burden of their education.
“My office has so much in store for the physically challenged and I cannot wait to hit the ground running.”
While calling for support and unity amongst party members and persons living with disabilities in the APC, Jonah equally appreciated the leaders of the party for their support.
“I want to thank my boss and leader of the party in Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva for his fatherly love, care and support.
“I also thank Hon. Yekini Nabena, the national deputy publicity secretary of the APC for buying me form to contest,” Jonah said.
