The founder, Center for Citizens Development, David Obina Anyaele, has urged religious leaders to remove all barriers that hinder People With Disabilities (PWDs) from inclusiveness in religious services and communities activities.

Obinna said this in Benin City, Edo State capital, during the closing ceremony of a four-day training for Persons With Disabilities on rights advocacy and advocacy action plan.

The call, he said became necessary as appropriate measures are not taken to ensure that persons with disabilities have unhindered access to various worship centers of both religious in the country.

“It is important that we urged religious leaders to take appropriate measures to remove all barriers that hiders people with disabilities from participating in service, society and communities on equal basis with others.

“Most Christians centres are not accessible to People With Disabilities, even when you force yourself into the church with your wheel chair, when you are press and want to ease yourself, you may not be able to do so.

“And, that is why most People With Disabilities don’t go to church. One of the key driver of the situation is attitude and when the attitude is bad, PWDs will not benefit,” he said.

According to him, “if religious leader can’t speak for those who can’t speak for themselves who else will do that?” He added, “it is important that we have religious leader promoting inclusive society for all.

“If priest of these religious centres do not appreciate disability issues and are not able to tell their members on the role and responsibility, when such member go to the government they will fail PWDs.”

Obinna noted that involving civil society organisations to appreciate the key issues concern in efforts to promote inclusive economic opportunity and a community that is all inclusive in states is key to the center.

He said from the training, it shows that the civil society are really committed to ensuring that the vulnerable groups are not left behind in the attempt to reach the government for all inclusiveness in Edo state.

While commending Abia and Edo states that have passed disability law, he charged government at all levels to take steps to remove barriers that hinder people with disabilities from participating in all society, community and government activities. (Daily Trust)

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