• Task governors, disabilities commission to do more for PWDs
‘Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER – Leaders of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the APC have highlighted steps to reach over 25 million PWDs voters in a bid to deliver for the party in the 2023 general election.
This was the position of the leaders at the just concluded APC, PWDs National Summit for state, zonal leaders and the national leader in Abuja today August 4, 2022.
The APC National Leader, PWDs, Hon Tolu Bankole while welcoming the participants confronted the leaders with the onerous tasks of winning the election for the APC to guarantee political, economic and social inclusion of PWDs in the party.
“”When you have a disability, you have three choices. You can either let it define you, let it destroy you or you can let it strength you.
“I have come to the conclusion that financial inclusion; independence/economic empowerment are the solutions to strengthen us individually and collectively.
“This National Summit is a child of necessity to chart a common course and equip us as leaders for the onerous tasks of securing a better life and economic prosperity for our members.
“With 25 million votes from PWDs, we resolved to set up all inclusive PWDs campaign structure to the polling units level, to work for the victory of our presidential ticket; Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima; our Governors and other candidates of our party.
“To achieve this, we ask that PWDs must be involved in all the campaign structures of the party at the national and various states by setting up PWDs directorate to accommodate the peculiarities of the PWD community” he said.
The deputy national organizing secretary, Hon Nze Duru Chidi, urged APC, PWDs to organize themselves as bloc to demand for their rights promising that they will find allies in the national working committee of the party.
The keynote speaker, Mr Jide Ojo was represented by Mr Olumide Olaniyan, while delivering a paper titled: “Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018: Mainstreaming PWDs in the electoral value chain” challenged the leaders to remove institutional, environmental and attitudinal barriers.
He cited examples of PWDs who have excelled in leadership across the globe, urging APC, PWDs to prioritize issues of inclusivity, access, participation and sustainability.
The summit passionately appealed to state governors to support all PWDs zonal and state leaders to achieve their objectives.
“Moreso, we appeal to our Governors, who are the leaders of the party to give PWDs leaders in the Zones and States listening ears in order to fulfill their mandates of political, economic and social inclusion of PWDs in APC” the communique reads in part.
Some of the dignitaries at the maiden APC PWDs National Summit for State and Zonal Leaders, include the APC Deputy National Organizing Secretary, Nze Chidi Duru; Deputy National Financial Secretary, Hon. Hamma-Adama Ali Kumo; former member, House of Representatives, Abass Braimah, among others.
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE MAIDEN APC PWDS NATIONAL SUMMIT FOR STATE, ZONAL LEADERS AND THE NATIONAL LEADER. ABUJA. TODAY AUGUST 4TH, 2022.
This National Summit which is a platform to amplify the need for fair and equitable inclusion of PWDs in all the 36 states of the federation including the FCT after extensive deliberations resolved as follows:
First, we appreciated the special place our hero, President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR played to ensure that PWDs gain its prominent status as guaranteed in the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 when he signed the law. The PWDs reckoned that the president’s infrastructural revolution in the country is historic and history will be kind to him.
We promise the unalloyed support and solidarity of all clusters of PWDs in Nigeria and diaspora.
Like Oliver Twist, we call on our dearest President to complete his love for PWDs by appointing PWDs as Minister, members of federal boards and parastatals in his cabinet to finally put a nail on the coffin of discrimination, stigmatisation and rejection of PWDs in Nigeria.
We registered our gratitude to The National Chairman of our great party, APC, His Excellency, Senator Abdullahi Adamu and the entire NWC members for demonstrable inclusive ideals.
Also, we emphasized that Nigerians must understand that disability is never by choice, and nobody is immuned. We are PWDs either by birth, negligence by our parents and guardians, accidents, war, age, disease and epidemic.
The Summit passionately appealed to the conscience of state Governors who have not domesticated the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018 to bequeath an enduring legacy to to the PWDs community.
Moreso, we appeal to our Governors, who are the leaders of the party to give PWDs leaders in the Zones and States listening ears in order to fulfill their mandates of political, economic and social inclusion of PWDs in APC.
With 25 million votes from PWDs, we resolved to set up all inclusive PWDs campaign structure to the polling units level, to work for the victory of our presidential ticket; Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima; our Governors and other candidates of our party.
To achieve this, we ask that PWDs must be involved in all the campaign structures of the party at the national and various states by setting up PWDs directorate to accommodate the peculiarities of the PWD community.
We agree to set-up PWDs Campaign Council for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu/Shettima 2023 immediately, to ensure victory, knowing that APC is for Nigerians and Nigerians are for APC.
Equally, the Summit resolved to write to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to know the correct data of PWDs voters. We ask INEC to extend the continuous voters registration exercise to prevent the disenfranchisement of eligible PWDs voters.
On insecurity in Nigeria, we reject the drums of dooms and wars by merchants of instability. Nigeria’s security is the collective responsibility of all Nigerians. Enough is enough, this beat of war must stop, we in the PWDs community will not dance to it.
This National Summit charged all PWDs leaders to carry along women and children as a matter of priority. To achieve this, we shall create a directorate for women/children with disabilities to give them a sense of belonging.
Lack of finances to oil the activities of PWDs at the state/zonal/national levels was identified while urging the party’s hierarchy at the national and states to support PWDs with mobility to achieve the daunting task ahead of campaigns.
The Summit noted that the National Disabilities Commission have done so much for the PWDs community and those of us in the APC are willing partners of the Commission to reach more PWDs in Nigeria.
Finally, the Summit unanimously celebrated the progressive, inclusive giant strides of the National Leader, Hon Tolu Bankole and endorse his dogged and sterling leadership since assuming office.
We resolved to stand by his leadership and appealed to all leaders to shun anti-party activities
The communique was adopted by Hon. Isah Umar Aliyu (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Niger state) and seconded by Hon Nafiu Lukman (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Osun state).
SIGNED:
1. Hon. ‘Tolu Bankole, (APC, National Leader, PWDs)
2. Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, (APC, Zonal Leader, PWDs, North East)
3. Hon. Audu Lazarus Loho, (APC, Zonal Leader, PWDs, North Central)
4. Dr Nwachukwu Stanley, (APC, Zonal Leader, PWDs, South East).
5. Hon. M. Lawal Na-Rogo, (APC, Zonal Leader, PWDs, North West)
6. Hon Nafiu Lukman (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Osun state)
7. Chief Muse Jimoh (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Oyo state)
8. Chief Israel Akiode (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Lagos state)
9. Chief Osundara Ajibade Tope (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Ekiti state)
10. Com. Abiola Abiodun Hon Nafiu Lukman (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Ondo state)
11. Com. Odila Divine Favour Hon Nafiu Lukman (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Rivers state)
12. Hon. Livinus Ebingha (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Cross Rivers state)
13. Hon Austin Jonah (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Bayelsa state)
14. Elder Prince Enetak Okon Bassey (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Akwa Ibom state)
15. Hon Okorefe Mudiaga (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Delta state)
16. Ngochukwu (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Abia state)
17. Hon Jones Osubngho (APC, State Ebonyi state)
18. Hon Anoliefo Samuel (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Anambra state)
19. Mr Ifudu Ikechukwu (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Enugu state)
20. Hon Dr Samuelson Emehibe (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Imo state)
21. Alhaji Yakubu Ajiji (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Plateau state)
22. Isah Umar Aliyu (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Niger state)
23. Hon Ageba Titus Ukende (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Benue state)
24. Hon Ibrahim Daniel (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Kogi state)
25. Hon Abubakar Sharu Abduljaleel (APC, State Leader, PWDs, FCT state)
25. Hon Abdulsalam Bakari (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Gombe state)
26. Com. Ibrahim Alhassan Ganye (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Adamawa state)
27. Alhaji Aminu Yahaya (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Kaduna state)
28. Alhaji Adamu Gidao Gwangazo (APC, State Leader, PWDs)
29. Hon Samaila Gusua (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Zamfara state)
30. Hon Aminu Bello (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Sokoto state)
31. Hon Usani Muhammed Sani (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Jigawa state)
32. Hon Aminu Mohammed Ambursa (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Kebbi state)
33. Com. Dahiru Gambo Rafindadi (APC, State Leader, PWDs, Katsina state)
Recent Comments