Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has called for better support for fellow citizens with disabilities as Nigeria joins the world to mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
In a statement on Sunday via his X account, Obi said, “I join in demanding a better nation for them as fellow compatriots with disabilities not by their making. Disability should not be a death sentence or society stigmatisation, but should be a platform that calls up the humanity in us as their brothers and sisters.”
Obi decried that “in our clime where good governance is hard to come by leading to needless hardship, those with disabilities in our midst feel the pinch more as life becomes more difficult for them.”
Referencing WHO statistics indicating over 35 million Nigerians are with disabilities, Obi affirmed, “Such a significant number of people must be cared for by the government so that they can live their lives in full, and contribute positively to the development of the nation.”
He called on the government to “ensure that they have access to healthcare and education, which are not only critical for national development, but will ensure that they thrive and fully explore their potentials.”
The former Anambra governor also rallied citizens to “break all barriers of discrimination against those with disabilities. We are all differently gifted.”
Obi reminded that legislation mandates that public agencies reserve at least 5 per cent of jobs for such persons. “This will ensure that they are adequately represented in both governance and the public sector,” he explained.