Disability not a death sentence, says Buhari

Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), has a message for Nigerians with disabilities.

Their disabilities, he said yesterday, do not amount to a death sentence.

He said with strong power and will power they can surmount any obstacles on their way.

Buhari, who spoke at a town hall meeting with people with disability and the physically challenged in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, promised to set up a National Ombudsman to look after the welfare of people with disabilities.

He pointed at the late American President, Franklin Roosevelt, and Professor Steven Hawking, astrophysicist of Cambridge University, England as example of physically challenged figures who rose to prominence. The presidential hopeful said nobody with disabilities has any good reason not to succeed and contribute to humanity.

According to him: “Physically challenged people have rights and also have contributions to the national efforts.

“If, by the grace of God, APC wins the elections next week, we will fulfill our electoral promise to appoint a Federal Ombudsman for people with disabilities to combat discrimination against the disabled.

“The Ombudsman will take care of rehabilitation, employment of disabled persons and participation in public life, among others.”

The Director, Disability APC Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Sam Ankeli, said this was the first time any presidential candidate was interfacing with people with disabilities.

He stressed it was a clear sign that the APC will run an inclusive government.

Ankeli said: “APC has shown us that they are compassionate, faithful and have integrity. They are fair and powerful.

“Nigerians with disabilities are more than 23 million. But no government has remembered us.

“We are confident that APC because they have included us at this level will remember us when they form government.”