by Chris Agbo
Disability-Inclusion-Nigeria on Friday 14th August 2020 organized a webinar to mentor persons with disabilities towards enhancement of their political fortune. The project known as ElectAbility Project-PWDs’ mentorship forum for political inclusion in Nigeria was put together by the convener of Disability Inclusion Nigeria, Mr. Jake Epelle who is also the founder of The Albino Foundation.
Speaking at the meeting, Jake Epelle informed that the event would be taking place every month and experienced panelists would be invited to speak to the persons with disabilities in order to equip them to contest in the next elections.
The panelists present at the webinar were Clement Nwankwo, Oyim Josephine Anineh, Hamza Fassi-Fihri and Jake Epelle and the meeting was facilitated by Wilson Manji.
Clement Nwankwo speaking at the meeting said that it is important that physical access is enhanced in a way that persons with disabilities can move freely within the society, and again in as much as the law didn’t exclude anyone from aspiring into elective positions. The political parties in Nigeria need to change the mindset of the people. The political parties are still marginalizing disadvantaged groups like women, youths and persons with disabilities. They need to create a level playing field to encourage these disadvantage groups to participate fully in the electioneering. He went further to state that in other clans, persons with disabilities have allowed to hold important positions in the government. Some countries have persons with disabilities in their legislative and appointments are given to them. He informed that in a diverse society, appointments ought to be made putting in consideration different group of persons in the society. In Nigeria, it is not the case, people are being appointed because they are from the same place with the person in power or that they are relatives of the person in power. He advised that efforts have to made towards the political parties creating opportunity for persons with disabilities.
Hamza Fassi-Fihri in his submission, told a story how the minorities were marginalized in Belgium politics but legislation opened up the space for the marginalized groups to be represented in Belgium politics today and that was how he made it in politics in Belgium even though his origin is Algeria. He advised Nigerians with disabilities to adopt the use of legislation to enhance their political participation.
Oyim Josephine Anineh encouraged persons with disabilities to join political parties and make themselves relevant because power is not given, it is acquired. She advised the persons with disabilities to join political parties and contribute meaningfully to the progress of the parties because if you have nothing to offer, the politicians are interested in those that have something to offer. She urged the young people to make effort to take over power from the older people because the older people would not give up power so easily. She informed that politics is not an occupation, she advised that as PWDs are indulging in politics, they should also have other things doing because politics requires a lot of resources so if you must succeed in it, you must be comfortable.
Jake Epelle in his presentation commended other panelists and said that he is no longer interested in politics because he is over 60 years but his desire now is to see younger persons with disabilities succeed in politics. He read out three things that someone should acquire to become an extraordinary politician. First, you must learn the act of political leadership; people follow you because of the amount of knowledge that you have. You should be so informed about what is happening politically around you and how you carry yourself matters a lot. Build your capacity, be so knowledgeable and ready to share your knowledge with others. Don’t be an ignorant politician. He specially appreciated the contribution of Oyim Josephine Anineh and asked her to always be a panelist at this forum because the experiences she shared would go a long way towards building the capacity of persons with disabilities in political participation. Secondly, be a grassroot person, you can not be a successful politician when you are not known in your place, forget about the cities, go back to your base and from there, you will storm Abuja or Lagos, you can’t represent people you don’t know. You have to start from the local government chairman, councilor and finally learn how to start small and also learn to be honest and build your integrity.
