Oyo State chapter of the Coalition of like-minded people with disabilities has vowed to support only the political party and candidates that recognise them in the forthcoming general election.
The group disclosed this during a rally to create awareness among persons with disabilities towards the preparation for the general elections.
The rally tagged ‘Effective mobilisation strategies and participation of persons living with disabilities at the grassroot for 2023 general elections’ held in some parts of Ibadan, President of the coalition, Chukwuma Ibeh lamented that persons with disabilities have been neglected by political office holders over the years, despite the fact that about 2.5 million people live with disabilities in the state.
Persons with disabilities include those on wheelchair, hearing and vision impairment, with spinal cord injury, physical disabilities and the Albinos.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has also revealed that over one billion people live with disabilities across the globe while about 25 million people live with disabilities in Nigeria.
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Ibeh who spoke on behalf of those with disabilities across the 33 local government areas in Oyo state at the rally said “we organised this rally to let members of the public especially people in Oyo state to know the existence of persons with disabilities. Politicians look at the population of persons with disabilities with a minor figure.
“But, we want the politicians to know that we are many. We have the power to vote in and vote out someone. We have a lot of roles to play in 2023 elections. We have gone to obtain our PVCs.
“So, any political party or candidate that gives us the recognition and respect will be voted for in 2023. Because we have the strength and our population is huge enough to let any party or candidate to win in any contest”. he added.
Meanwhile, Governor Seyi Makinde will on December 3rd, 2022 sign into law the Oyo State Persons Living with Disability (Amendment) Bill.
Ayodele Adekanmbi, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Persons with Disability who made this known while addressing a Coalition of Like-minded People with Disabilities, said the date set aside for the signing is International Day for Persons with Disability.
The bill, which was recently passed by the State House of Assembly, would create an agency for people with disabilities.
The bill passed last week after its report was presented by the Chairman of the Committee on Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Wumi Oladeji and clause-by-clause consideration by the Committee of the Whole House.
A private member bill sponsored by Oladeji was passed into Law in 2016 during the 8th Assembly.
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