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From Sola Ojo, Kaduna
For every challenge an abled individual goes through, people with disabilities (PWDs) go through twice as much, especially as they grow older. Suffice it to say many are the afflictions of the PWDs from their immediate to extended families and the larger society.
Over the years, the inducement of voters by politicians has become a routine practice in the Nigerian political landscape. Some of them that eventually secure the mandate of the electorate, in most cases, will only remember to go back after four years when another round of elections is close. In doing this, politicians are fond of mobilising poor and vulnerable groups, including PWDs during the campaign with a token as low as N500. Where abled people get N2,000, PWDs will get N1,000 or lower.
Even in leadership and political representation, PWDs are usually looked down upon when Presidents and governors pick their kitchen cabinet members. The highest consideration for this group of people is a special assistant or special adviser. They don’t usually serve as ministers or commissioners, even when the National Disability Act (2018) provided 5 per cent employment and social engagement opportunities for PWDs.
When this correspondent interacted with some of them recently, they said they were more concerned about their future because the older they become, the more challenges they face. According to them, they have the numbers when it comes to voting, and promised to use their voter’s card to vote any political party or candidate that signs a written agreement with them.
They are also calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make provisions for them by way of making Braille ballot paper available to those that are visually impaired (blind), interpreters for the hearing impaired (deaf) and special voting tables to those that are physically challenged.
Speaking on issues that affect persons with albinism, a member of the Albinism Association of Nigeria, David Pius, noted that education plays a key role in enlightenment and self-confidence, stating that some of them could not go to school, while some could not continue because their parents did not see the need for that, especially female albinos.
“Exposure is another area we need to work on. There is the need to constantly communicate with others other than your immediate family members and the Internet.
“Teamwork is very important. When we work together, we will achieve a lot, rather than individuals. Let us stop blaming others for our predicament.
“Self-confidence is another issue. People with disability need to step up, understand their strengths, and develop their areas of expertise. Learn new skills about your area of interest and you will be known for that,” he said.
Also, a member of Kaduna State Association of the Deaf, Amina Nasir, said: “We try our best to meet different political figures but, due to communication gaps, they end up abandoning us. When we meet people at our local government level, people don’t know how to communicate with us.
“Even in school, the story is the same. When we graduate from school, the risk of getting a job is like 10 times higher than others.
“We are calling on civil society and government to make an interpreter available in all public places because this will help us to overcome a lot of our challenges.”
On her part, a visually-impaired lady who works with Women with Disability and Self-Reliance, Kaduna, Queen David, appealed to government to make the education of blind children easier by providing them with special learning materials, which many parents could not afford.
“Slate, silos, tape recorder, Braille and other of learning materials right from primary to higher institution are expensive for the majority of disabled children who are not from rich families.
“A slate alone costs about N10,000. After some of us might have struggled to get educated, they are only interested in appointing a few of us as SSA when we can function as commissioners, ministers and so on. Let them try us and see whether we will deliver or not,” she said.
Chairman, Albinism Association of Nigeria, Kaduna State Chapter, Abubakar Adam, was especially concerned about the future of albinos in the state.
He say: “We are after tomorrow and any political party or candidate that wants our support must plan for our tomorrow. We are not interested in rice, clothing or N1,000 and things like that.
“So, anyone we are going to vote for in the coming elections must give us his blueprint on what he wants to do for us in black and white so we can hold and use it to demand our rights, if they deviate from their commitment, because we have the number in Kaduna and any candidate we support will win the election.
“Fortunately, there are laws both at the federal and state levels, which we can use to demand our rights.”
Executive director, Women with Disability Self-Reliance Foundation, Kaduna, Riskat Toyin Muhammed, said her organisation, in partnership with Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women and supported by ActionAid Nigeria, has been encouraging PWDs to prioritise their issues, harmonise them and make them a single document for advocacy to critical stakeholders, including the government, development partners, civil society and the media.
“We are encouraging PWDs to bring out those issues that affect their involvement and participation in politics. We want to see how the rights of PWDs would be protected as stipulated by laws.
“For example, in addition to 5 per cent representation in all facets of the economy for PWDs, we want inclusion in substantial appointments because we have qualified people that can fit into these positions and do well.
“Again, there is a policy in place that said two PWDs should be among local government boards. But, as we speak, I’m not aware of any PWD occupying these positions. That is exclusion. Like we always say, there is nothing about us without us”, she said.
Project officer, ActionAid Nigeria ‘We-You-Project’ being implemented in Kaduna State by Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LANW), Hannatu Ahuwan, said: “We are supporting the PWD to come together, discuss their issues and see how they can use it to engage as we approach another round of election.
“They also need to use the outcome of this priority meeting to engage government and other institutions to increase their chances in political leadership and participation in Kaduna State.”
