Marginalization: Gombe PWDs Demand Equality Through Participation In Governance
The Albino Foundation Public Notice
Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) Balanga Local Government Area, LGA branch of Gombe State have challenged the polity over rationales for the exclusion of Persons With Disabilities, PWDs, in governance.
The pressure group spoke with Inclusive News Network, INN, on Tuesday when a group of Persons With Disabilities thronged office of the Chairman, Hon. Garba Umar, to express grievances over recurrent exclusion, marginalization and discrimination of PWDs in Governance.
Leader of the group, Mr. Abubakar Talasse told INN that the peaceful protest to the council Secretariat was originally meant to call attention of government top-shots within Balanga LGA and the State to the plights of PWDs in the council. This minority group suffer various forms of marginalization. It is therefore imperative to find means of ensuring their full integration and inclusion in governance and public services.
“We came here today with a mission to call attention of our leaders to our plights. We are tired of being abandoned to roam the streets begging for alms and being reduced to mere objects of charity.
Our people have the capacity to contribute meaningfully to the development of Balanga LGA in particular, and the State at large. What we need is full inclusion in the government”.
Mr Abubakar further lamented that despite the few number of Persons with Disabilities with the legitimate qualifications for public service and potential to contribute to development of the society, these persons are excluded from government.
“We have few graduates with flying colors from recognized institutions yet nobody employs them. Our people have no sense of belonging in the government”, he lamented.
The demonstrating group was received by deputy chairman of Balanga LGA Mr. Salamu Ezekiel. Ezekiel represented the Chairman of the council, Hon. Garba Umar who, at time of the visit was on official assessment .
Speaking in response to issues raised by leader of the group, Mr. Ezekiel said he was deeply shocked to hear the complaints brought forward by the group and he sympathized with them in this regard. His words, “when I heard your complaints I was terribly shocked, I still do. It’s unfortunate that such things have happened to your people. In my opinion, what happened was not intentional. Far from that”!
The deputy chairman who appeared deeply concerned about the plights of the group expressed hope that the situation would be contained in the right priorities at the right time. “I assure you that the council under the able leadership of Hon. Garba Umar would do everything humanly possible to accommodate People with Disabilities in our policies.
“When our leader return from his official assignments, we will discuss your problems at length, and by God’s grace come up with the right solutions for containing the problems. I imploy you to be prayerful and hopeful” Mr Ezekiel said.
INN gathered that Balanga LGA is one of the leading LGAs in Gombe State with significant population of PWDs who continue to suffer gross governmental neglect.
A member of JONAPWD Balanga LGA branch who does not want his name in print said he was sad because Balanga LGA is blessed with many successful and prominent personalities that have contributed immensely to the development of Gombe State but could not support PWDs in Balanga LGA. These people, he laments, showed no interest on the plights of PWDs in the local government.
This, according to him, is one reason warranting the protest to the council Chairman.
Inclusive News Network
