by Chris Agbo
Persons with disabilities in Edo State have called on aspirants in the forthcoming Edo State Gubernatorial Election to bring to the fore their disability focused policies and programmes.
The Chairman of Joint National Association of Persons with disabilities (JONAPWD) Edo State Chapter, Comrade Ebose Henry in a press statement sent to The Qualitative Magazine (TQM) on Thursday, said that over the years, PWDs in Edo state have been clamouring for full inclusion and proper mainstreaming of PWDs in all works of lives. Since 2012, a lot of advocacy has gone into ensuring that all forms of discrimination and barriers faced by PWDs are addressed but unfortunately PWDs in Edo State rights are still not protected by law. Several governments in Edo State have been urged to develop a lasting policy framework by enacting a disability rights law to protect PWDs in Edo State from discrimination and harmful practices with a commission that will oversee the implementation of the law but they have been playing lip service to it.
“We have long said “Enough” to piecemeal approaches and charity/sympathy attention that successive governments have given to disability issues”, he said.
He thereby calls on all governorship candidates in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections in Edo State to come forth with the blueprint of the policies and programmes for PWDs in Edo State especially the law that will protect the rights of PWDs. He reminded them that PWDs have over 200, 000 registered voters and with their relations and caregivers, they are capable of attracting over 500, 000 voters to a candidate.
Speaking further, he called on Governor Obaseki to be part of history making governor by without further delay transmit to the State House of Assembly “ A BILL FOR A LAW TO ENSURE FULL INTEGRATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES INTO THE SOCIETY AND TO ESTABLISH EDO STATE COMMISSION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES AND VEST IT WITH THE RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THEIR EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE AND THE PROTECTION OF THEIR SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, cultural, CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS; it is presently on his table.
“We are therefore ready to engage the Aspirants in the forthcoming election and their political parties to understand their agenda and how it will impact the lives of PWDs and how they can meet our demands to the collective wish of our people” he concluded.
