Disabilities People laud Yahaya on inclusion in governance

People Living With Disabilities (PWDs) says Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi stands out as a role model in the country, on inclusion of PWDs in governance. Dr Chike Okogwu, Chief Responsibility Officer, Centre For Ability Rehabilitation and Empowerment (CARE) said this at a seminar on Thursday in Abuja. The seminar with the theme: "PWDs, Politics, Power and Powerlessness", was organised by Care in collaboration with The Ray of Hope Foundation. It was organised to discus participation of PWDs in the forthcoming 2023 general elections and their support for Bello.

Okogwu said PWDs would support those who supported them. He added that the Kogi governor stood out especially in the area of providing sustainable livelihoods for PWDs. and offering them leadership appointments even outside disability-related government positions in the county. He commended Bello for not only domesticating the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, but also towering high above his few counterparts in showcasing the raw abilities of PWDs.

This, he said, had given PWDs the opportunity to succeed and make differences in assignment they were saddled with. According to him, Bello has appointed more PWDs into public offices than any other state governor in the country, saying that other governors and indeed all politicians should emulate him. He continued they have vowed  to only support those who prioritise their  course and support them  like Bello.

Okogwu, who is a disabilities advocate, lauded the Kogi governor for the way and manner he championed the inclusion of PWDs in the activities of the All Progressives Congress and sponsored advertorials on their behalf. He described the governor's efforts as a masterpiece, adding that if other governors and political leaders could emulate his gestures toward improving the living conditions of PWDs, the country would be a better place for all.

He praised President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Discrimination Against Persons with disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 into law, stressing that the Act had turned PWDs from "nobodys" to "somebodys." Okogwu, however, noted that Plateau, Lagos State, Jigawa, Kano state, Imo, Anambra, Kogi and very recently, Kaduna state had domesticated the Act in their respective states.

He said that some have and others are about to set up Disabilities Commissions with all of them appointing PWDs into government as Special Advisers or Personal Assistants on Disabilities. A few states have encouraged PWDs to become Permanent Secretaries. One state governor who towers above the rest is Bello. Bello has appointed more PWDs into differential government leadership positions, outside disabilities related matters to showcase the raw abilities in the capacities of PWDs to succeed.

Okogwu stressed that PWDs had the capacity, courage and connections to lead and urged political parties to give free election nomination forms to qualified PWDs to take up elective positions. Persons living with disabilities should form at least 15 per cent of the Federal Executive Council with other relevant appointments in 2023. He added that this should also be replicated across states of the federation, adding that the National Assembly and State Houses of Assemblies were also not left out.

These will create a huge employment for persons living with disabilities and taking PWDs to the political promised land through participation in governance. Although, elections in Nigeria are expensive, like it is all over the world, but  PWDs also have the ThreeCs, namely, capacity, connections and courage to lead well. Okogwu stated that political barriers be removed and political parties would lead the way by giving free election nomination forms to persons living with disabilities provided they show the threeCs above.