by Yusuf Mohammed Lawan, Gombe
Nov 13th, 2024
In spite of the signing into law the National Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (prohibation) Act, 2018 on January 2019 by the former president Muhammadu Buhari, a law which seeks fuller integration and inclusion of persons with disabilities(PWDs) in all sectors of public life including the social, political and economic sectors.
Lamentically, PWDs in Nigeria seems to be continuously excluded unjustifiably in various sectors of the society -especially in the political environment where they faced and are still facing significant degrees of injustice on daily basis.
Efforts to tame the tide of such inhuman, illicit and reckless social exclusion against the PWDs has been made severally by different groups and individuals within the planks and ranks of PWDs community and some volunteers from the wider society. The latest of such charge against the unwholesome treatment meted to PWDs was made by the former Special Assistant on Disabilty Matters to Kogi state Governor, Hon. Hussaini kabiru Omele who utilized his social media handle (Facebook page) to express his shock and displeasure with those who are found wanting in the evil practice.
Omele, while expressing his disatisfaction with the way things are going on for PWDs in the nation, noted that the political structure in the Local Government system in Nigeria is not properly accommodating PWDs
He urged, "the Local Government system is a grassroot focused. It is configured to bring governance closer to the people. To actualize this in a more realistic way, some political parties give percentage to politically vulnerable groups for equity and for a Sense of belonging"
Recalling how the leadership of his political party, the All Progressive Congress (APP) as part of it's policies in Kogi State, the party was able to share slots in the ratio of 60% to men and 40% to women.
"In as much as we applauded this sensitivity" he said, "the disability community is exempted and we are forced to ask whether women are more politically vulnerable than Persons with Disabilities"
"Women are presently the vice chairmen and the legislative leaders in all the local government areas of the state. We equally have several women counsellors"
"I wish to at this point to appeal to the Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Usman Ododo, the State Legislators and the Local Government Chairmen to Consider persons with disabilities for Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistant (SSA) in the further appointments" he requested
"Disability is not Inability, leave no one behind, nothing for us without us" he added.
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