PWDs Better Under Ganduje, Tinubu’s Administration – Tolu Bankole
By Kabir Akintayo
Hon. Tolu Bankole, the APC National Leader for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) has extolled the remarkable strides made under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration, hailing his “Renewed Hope” policies as the catalyst for a paradigm shift towards inclusivity and economic self-sufficiency.
Bankole also emphasized the transformative impact of Ganduje’s leadership, asserting that PWDs have found a more supportive environment within the party than ever before.
Speaking during a solidarity visit to Dr. Ganduje at the party national secretariat in Abuja, Hon. Bankole stated that PDWs are committed to the success of Ganduje’s leadership.
Highlighting the pivotal role of PWDs in national development, Bankole underscored their commitment to supporting the administration and the PWD-friendly National Chairman to foster internal cohesion within the party and ensure that disability never translates into inability.
He said, “This is our first meeting with you as Persons With Disabilities, PWDs since your assumption of office as the National Chairman of our great party.
“Thus, it is apt to use this visit to say publicly that PWDs are better under His Excellency Abdullahi Ganduje than any previous party administration.” Bankole said.
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Commending the Renewed Hope Initiative spearheaded by Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Bankole emphasized the urgent need for concerted efforts by both the government and private sector to address the challenges faced by PWDs and ensure their full inclusion in decision-making processes.
He said, “United Nations, Secretary General Antonio Guterres captured our plights as PWDs when he stressed that “every crisis in society disproportionally impacts persons with disabilities”, he added that “this requires greater public-private sector collaboration to develop strategies for, with and by persons with disabilities.
“The cornerstone of this cooperation must be the active participation of persons with disabilities in their full diversity, and their full inclusion in all decision-making processes.
Indeed, government must do more for us. Disability is not inability. Disability only becomes a tragedy when society fails to provide the things needed to lead about one’s daily life,” PWDs leader said.
Drawing attention to the staggering population of PWDs in Nigeria, Bankole urged all stakeholders to expedite the implementation of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act and establish Disability Commissions to combat discrimination and promote inclusivity.
“Six years after the passage of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, only 13 states have demonstrated measures to domesticate the Act. They include Lagos, Anambra, Ekiti, Ondo, Plateau, Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Kogi, Niger, Kwara and the FCT.
“We call on the state governments who are yet to domesticate fully the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, to do so without further delay and establish Disability Commission as enshrined in the Act. This is important because failure in this regard is tacit endorsement of discrimination and other harmful practices against Persons With Disabilities,” Bankole maintained.
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