PWDs ask the C’ River government to hold LG elections

People with Disabilities (PWDs), working with the NGO TAF Africa, have urged the Cross River government to set a date for the state’s local government elections.

Dr. Jake Epelle, Convener, TAF Africa, revealed this on Saturday in Calabar during a workshop to teach leaders of different disability groups how to effectively and skillfully advocate for their causes in order to strengthen their skills.

Epelle asserted that a date and time for the LG elections in Cross River should be announced by the current administration.

He claimed that Gov. Bassey Otu’s plan to create a vigorous state would benefit from the election.

“We picked Cross River because we want the state to benefit from our project by having inclusive elections, inclusive governance, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) who would fight for disability inclusion in its entirety.

I can guarantee you that if PWDs are not unified, we would receive nothing, thus the opportunities that result from our work will belong to PWDs with equity. In actuality, some politicians will profit from the situation and do no action to help us.

Despite having limited funds, TAF Africa can accomplish a lot when it comes to providing PWDs with the necessary equipment for the LG elections in the state, he claimed.

According to Epelle, they intended Cross River to be the first state with a clear, inclusive framework that would be used to drive local government.

Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, the secretary to the Cross River administration, stated that he was ready to connect PWDs with the state government so they could have simple access.

condition, according to Owan-Enoh, does not equate to a loss of ability because every aspect of a condition is accompanied by a wealth of potential and skill.

“I have promised to serve as an ambassador for the Cross River PWDs, to represent them and advocate on their behalf.

“PWDs should come out of their shells, put their disabilities behind them, realise their potential, just like everyone else, and give their all to the advancement of society.

Disability does not equate to a lack of capacity, according to Prof. Mike Oshie, chairman of the Cross River Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC), who also noted that several PWDs in the commission had performed well when given opportunity.

“PWDs work for the commission as staff members, and they take part in elections. We are going to work with TAF Africa to assist us in getting them the equipment they need.

“The commission already has an electoral guideline, but with this new development I have sent it to PWDs to review for us to adopt for a better LG poll,” he stated.

The session, according to some PWDs who talked with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), was enlightening and would improve their efforts to include and integrate PWDs into society.

They claimed that in addition to learning how to live as assets in society rather than liabilities, they had also learned how to advocate diplomatically for their causes rather than using force.

According to NAN, TAF Africa, previously The Albino Foundation, is an organisation that serves as a unified voice for PWDs on a national and international scale for advocacy through the creation of programmes. (NAN)