Folarin Kehinde

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Presidential Candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 election, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has failed to reveal his plans for the over 27 million Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the country.

Tinubu released an 80-page document titled “Renewed Hope 2023 – Action Plan for a Better Nigeria” as his manifesto on Friday 21, October.

The document contains programmes to be pursued by his administration if elected president next year.

It however does not contain any detailed plans for PWDs who, according to the World Health Organisation(WHO), number above 27 million in population- more than ten percent of the population of the country.

Data from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ) shows that 87,083 PWDs have registered to vote as of Monday 1st August 2022.

The manifesto shows the former Lagos State governor will only prioritise National Security, Economy, Agriculture, Power, Oil and Gas, Transportation and Education if elected as President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor next February.

The only reference to PWDs in the 80-page document is on pages 62 and 63 where it discusses social intervention programmes.

It states, “Social Investment Programs: Introduce new social investment programs supporting the development of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) particularly among the poor.

“These investment programs will improve business productivity, widen access to affordable finance and capital markets and expand businesses such that beneficiaries can offer employment to others. Recipients shall receive high-quality, low-cost business development support services. These programs and initiatives will give priority access to PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES(Sic), women, and young people.”

Chairman of the National Association of Persons With Disability, Abuja Chapter, Agbo Christian, said the inclusion of PWDs in government’s plans lies in the hands of the presidential candidates.

He said, “It is unfortunate that some politicians have not seen the need for disability inclusion.

“The inclusion of PWDs depends on individual politicians because political parties are not carried along when individuals are drafting their manifestoes.

“The fact that President Buhari is good to PWDs does not mean that his party or other candidates of the party would be good to PWDs. After all, not all APC states have domesticated Disability Laws, States like Imo, Ebonyi, Cross River, Kebbi, and many others.”

He urged PWDs in Nigeria to only vote for candidates who articulate disability issues in their manifestoes.

“PWDs will not leave Presidential Candidates like that because if we do, we will retrogress. So, we must engage them to make commitments towards our issues that we will use to hold them accountable but it is unfortunate that in a time like this when the whole world is talking about inclusion, APC Presidential Candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu will forget to mention PWDs in his manifesto,” he said.

The other frontline candidates, including the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party presidential candidates, Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi respectively, are yet to release their own manifestoes.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, said no fewer than 20 million children have been spared disability and are walking today due to the global efforts achieved in polio cases.

Moeti said since the landmark resolution for the worldwide eradication of polio was adopted in 1988 at the 41st World Health Assembly, global efforts have achieved more than 99.9% decrease in polio cases.

Two of the three strains of wild poliovirus (Type 2 and Type 3) have been certified as eradicated, and in 2020 the African Region was certified as free of indigenous wild polio, she said.

Moeti disclosed this in her message to mark the World Polio Day celebrated annually on October 24, to provide opportunity to highlight global efforts toward a polio-free world, and to honor the unwavering commitment of those on the frontlines of the fight to eradicate polio.

The theme for this year, “World Polio Day 2022 and Beyond: A healthier future for mothers and children”, kicked off with discussions in Geneva between WHO, Rotary International, and polio experts, to consider future efforts to continue the decades-long collaboration against polio.

According to her: ” This progress is admirable, and has safeguarded millions of children and their families from this crippling virus. However, detections of new outbreaks, including in areas where polio was believed to have been eradicated, is a stark reminder that if we do not deliver on our promise to eradicate all forms of polio, everywhere, no child is safe anywhere.

“The Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s (GPEI) 2022-2026 Strategy to end polio lays out the pathway to finish this last mile. The significant global commitment to fund the strategy, at the 2022 World Health Summit polio pledging event earlier this month, was extremely encouraging.

“In a show of global solidarity, the host country Germany, along with 15 other countries, as well as charities, international organizations, and numerous private sector initiatives, committed more than US$ 2.6 billion to the strategy – more than half the total target.

A31-year-old man, Mohammed Umar, on Monday began a 425-kilometre walk from Gombe to Abuja to draw support for Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate for the 2023 election.

Mr Umar, a member of TinKas Tinubu/Shettima Support Group, told journalists before starting his walk in Gombe that his action was to show support for Mr Tinubu ahead of the 2023 poll.

He said the support group has been mobilising support in the North-East for the APC to ensure its victory at all levels in the 2023 general election.

“Tinubu has picked our own, Sen. Kashim Shettima as his running mate; the best we can do for him is to mobilise support for him to secure massive votes for them from the North-East.

“Tinubu has shown capacity and competence, same for Shettima; so supporting their candidature to ensure victory in 2023 will be for the benefit of Nigerians.

“I am also going to Abuja to personally invite our leaders, Sen Tinubu and Shettima to come and open our campaign office in Gombe State,” he said.

The father of three said that he was prepared for the walk. “I have some malaria drugs with me should I fall sick in the course of the walk to Abuja.

“I have the support of my family in this endeavour; I have the full support and blessings of my family members,” he said.