Kunle Adelabu
-Urges support for Asiwaju Tinubu
Chairman of Ikorodu West Deaf Development Association, Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Com. Kuku Tosin Abdullahi, has called on the six Councils, politicians and Non – Governmental bodies in Ikorodu Division of Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, to always include special persons in their programmes and appointments.
Kuku, who is also the Director, Physically Challenged All Progressives Congress (APC) Professional Council in Ikorodu West LCDA, gave the charge in commemoration of the 2022 International Day of Persons with Disabiliy. He also said that they should be recognised and not neglected as a matter of rights and in accordance with Disability Bill signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.
This year’s Day of Persons with Disability is themed, “Transformative Solutions for lnclusive Development: The Role of lnnovation in Fuelling an Accessible and Equitable World“. The day is usually observed every December 3.
He also called on others with disabilities to give their maximum support to the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he said has been supportive of special people.
Kuku gave the charge in a statement he issued in Ikorodu on Thursday, titled, “Celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3rd December, 2022”.
“On behalf of Ikorodu disability community, I will like to urge the APC politicians, six Local Governments and NGO organizations in lkorodu Division to please include us in all areas of programmes and appointments as well as recognize us and not neglect”, he said.
“I want you all to understand that Disability Bill has been passed into law and signed by the administration of the President Buhari, which means that APC has done great for us……
“Members of the disability community must not be left alone to themselves and be seen as animals. There must be an inclusive system for them to be developed”.
He said that despite their efforts in voting some leaders into office, believing that they would protect their interests, unfortunately, they are still being discriminated against.
Kuku called on the people and government to show love to the people with special abilities instead of discriminating and stigmatizing them.
Calling on all persons with disability to support the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Kuku said that he is a very good friend of the deaf, adding that the former Governor of Lagos State is a very good friend of a special person, Mr Dahunsi Afolabi whom he said that Tinubu has never abandoned.
He also commended the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Raji Fashola, SAN, whom he said Tinubu introduced Afolabi to in order to keep touch with the person with disabilities.
“Let us all (the persons with disabilities) vote Asiwaju Bola Tinubu For 2023 President”, he charged in the statement.
The Chairman also singled out Hon. Batife Daisi, the Deputy Leader of the Legislative arm of lkorodu West LCDA, who is representing Ward B, for his support for the association.
He said that based o the theme for this year’s celebration, persons with disabilities in Ikorodu are advocating for the advancement of disability rights.
“Based on the goal for this year’s theme, ‘Transformative Solutions for Inclusive Development: The Role of lnnovation in Fuelling an Accessible and Equitable World’, we are advocating for the advancement of the disability rights”, he said.
