Physically challenged people in Bauchi state have lamentedthat contrary to their expectations, Bauchi state government has not deem it
fit to consider their plights almost a year after assumption into office.The Bauchi state Chapter Secretary for Physically ChallengedAssociation of Nigeria, Buhari Adamu Jamda who disclosed this in an exclusiveinterview with our correspondent appealed to Governor Bala Mohammed to lookinto their plights with a view to ameliorating their sufferings.
“I want to draw the attention of the Bauchi stategovernment and the ruling party, PDP to look into our plight. You know, we thepeople with disability played a vital role in seeing to their emergence as ourleaders”, he stressed.
“We have good expectations from this government that’swhy we want to remind his Excellency, Governor Bala Mohammed not to forget usin his kingdom”. Mr. Buhari pleaded.
The Secretary for the physically challenged persons in the state,who alleged that his members are yet to start benefiting from the presentadministration in the state, noted that their counterparts in the neighbouringGombe, Yobe, Maiduguri and others have since started receiving interventionsfrom their governments.
Buhari who said there is an existing agency in Bauchi forpeople living with disability and the state Assembly had recently passed a billin their favour explained that they have been left behind in terms of dividendsof democracy.
Buhari who noted that, although they are physical disabledbut able in their minds called on Governor Bala Mohamned to appoint somebodythat can serve as his personal assistant or special adviser on Physicallychallenge people so as to bridge the existing gab between them and hisgovernment.
“There is no single Parson with disability that youhave given him an opportunity to serve in your administration. This is contraryto our expectations that your administration is an all inclusive one. We feltnow that we have been isolated”. He said.
Buhari who pleaded with the Governor to revive the stateagency for people living with disability that will cater for their needs, addedthat, “amongst us, we the people with disability, are confident, capableand well deserved people who are educated that with little assistance they willbe self reliant”.
According to him, if physically challenged persons areempowered by the government, none of them will go to the streets to beg.
“In some states, even the children of physicallychallenged people are given free education from elementary to tertiaryeducation. But what we are requesting here in Bauchi is for us to be assistedto become self reliant “. The Secretary pointed out.
He appealed to Governor Bala to create empowerment programs for his members across the state, give automatic employment to the educated ones as well as scholarships for those who intends to go to school.
