Executive Director of Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), Mr David Anyaele, has advocated the building of an all-inclusive polity devoid of discrimination against any group of people, irrespective of their status.

Anyaele, during an advocacy meeting he held with some disabled persons and other non-governmental organisations in Umuahia, also called on government and allied institutions to eliminate anything that would hinder full participation of people with disabilities (PWD) in the democratic governance of the country.

The CCD boss noted with dismay that Nigeria’s polity does not give room for PWD to engage meaningfully in the nation’s democratic governance, largely due to discrimination. He said that many PWD are gifted, adding that their full participation may even provide solution to prevailing political and economic problems ravaging the country.

According to Anyaele, the National and state Assemblies could bring about the inclusion of the PWD in the nation’s affairs if they pass the Disability Bill into law.

“I hereby appeal to the National Assembly and State Assemblies that are yet to pass the Disability Bill into law to do so without let or hindrance,” he said.

He commended Bauchi, Ekiti, Lagos and Plateau states for passing the Disability Bill into law in their respective states.

The CCD Executive Director also urged the media in the country to engage sign language interpreters to interpret their news and other programmes to PWD to enable them to catch up with events in the country and the world at large. He also wants the media to desist from using derogatory names to describe the plight of the PWD.

Anyaele enjoined the PWD to strive to aspire to realise their potentials to enable them to contribute their quota to nation building and making the country virile, adding the “mandate of CCD is to build an inclusive polity where no one is discriminated against on account of his or her disability.”

•Photo shows CCD Executive Director, David Anyaele.

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