Caleb Ifeanyi Onah, PBA Journalism MenteeLeaders of Persons With Disability(s) in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) have called for more inclusion of their members in leadership roles at all levels of governance in Nigeria.
This was contained in a communiqué released by the APC PWDs after zonal leaders’ meeting with their national leader, Hon. Tolu Bankole in the party secretariat, Abuja on Friday, July 22.
The PWDs discussed strategies and directions for better conditions and function of her members in the party across the country.
They resolved to set up a campaign council for the APC presidential and vice presidential candidates, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima respectively, to ensure their victory in the 2023 presidential election.
The PWDs leaders also pledged to mobilize their members across the country to get their Permanent Voters Cards in order to vote massively for the party’s candidates.
The PWDs also used the opportunity to convey their appreciation to the Nigerian President, Muhammad Buhari for recognising PWDs and assenting to the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Bill passed by the National Assembly in 2018. They urged governors and state houses of assembly speakers to see the need to domesticate the laws in their states by passing it, adding that it is the only gift and enduring legacy any governor can bequeath to the PWDs community.
The group also appreciated the support and solidarity of the APC National Chairman, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, and all members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) with the PWDs.Part of the communiqué read: “We resolved to take a radical shift from business as usual where giving handouts such as wheelchairs, cups of staples, spaghetti, among others in the name of empowerment is all PWDs benefit.
“We shall mobilize PWDs for PVC collection to ensure victory for the BAT/Shettima Presidential ticket because it is the best for Nigeria.
“Therefore, we have marshalled plans to mobilize PWDs for APC victory in all elections and consequently secure a better life and economic prosperity for our members.
“We will go back to our states and zones to establish all-inclusive PWDs campaign structure to the polling units to work for the re-election of our Governors and other candidates of the party. While doing this, we will respect the party’s constitution and leadership structure.
“We agreed to set up PWDs Campaign Council for BAT/Shettima 2023 to ensure victory knowing that APC is for Nigerians and Nigerians are for APC.
“In a bid to engender unity in our ranks, reconciliatory moves are ongoing at the National, Zonal and State levels to pacify all members of the community.
“Our quest to change the economic fortunes of the members of the PWDs community through dignifying, resourceful and sustainable opportunities will gain momentum soon. We will put in place workable plans and programmes, designed in recognition of the peculiarities of the needs and challenges of each zone.
“Approvals have been given to all zonal leaders to initiate and implement programmes in their zones and the respective states.
“We will scale up our advocacy for better life for PWDs via economic empowerment and financial inclusion.
“A workshop to train, re-orientate and improve significantly the capacity of PWDs leaders at Zonal and State levels is billed for the first week of August in Abuja.”
Stressing on the need for better inclusion in leadership opportunities, the group said: “we are looking forward to seeing the appointment of PWDs as Ministers, Commissioners, Chairpersons of major statutory boards and parastatals of government henceforth.”
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