IN SEARCH OF A CHAMPION

IN SEARCH OF A CHAMPION Permit me to start this article by appreciating all of you, peace loving citizens of Imo State. I appeal for your rapt attention as you read to digest this important article designed to address some of the most pressing needs that confront persons with disability not only in Imo State but also in Nigeria at large. Read this not just like every other article seen on the pages of news papers but rather, follow the article word by word and line by line. Perhaps you may be touched to champion our course. It is important to start by stating categorically that the time is ripe when governments world over should begin to respect the rights of persons with special needs. Under a democratic regime where rule of law and human rights are not only observed but also respected, it is very normal to have groups of persons express their dissatisfaction over certain programmes of the government of the day; it is very normal for groups of persons to air their views and grievances as touching certain actions or inactions of the government of the day and it is very normal for groups of persons to freely assemble and express their opinions without fear of intimidation or molestation. It is common in a democratic setting to listen patiently to such voices and to have some of their genuine grievances addressed accordingly. It is also important to emphatically state here that this ARTICLE is not in any way politically motivated and it WILL BE very wrong to describe it as such. When people demand for rights to which they are entitled, they are simply appealing for the kind intervention of the strong, particularly to those with the political might to change situations and circumstances. Such demands should be seen as positive developments aimed at making government more responsible and accountable to the people. Is it really possible to truly rebrand Nigeria when we have not rebranded ourselves? For a true and effective rebranding of this country, we need to start with ourselves, rebrand our consciences, our thoughts, actions and approach to questions bothering on human dimension with utmost caution. Does it require a politician to tell me of the importance of education to persons with disability? The answer is no!!! In fact, “it is he who wears the shoes that knows where it pinches”. Do I need a politician to tell me of the important and invaluable role availability of funds can play in making education more accessible to persons with disability in our secondary and tertiary institutions? In fact, the normal Nigerian politician would rather want to see that funds allocated to manage disability related issues if any, are stifled as much as possible so as to save more for his self aggrandisement. Do I need a prophet to remind me of the fact that the disabled persons deserve equal employment opportunities? For instance, when a blind man who qualifies to work is denied of such an opportunity, you are in effect telling the person to go begging. Is it not a notorious fact that a blind man cannot push truck? he cannot hawk?, and he can neither drive nor conduct a bus? You discover that the blind man is limited to office jobs only. If you then deny him of employment, what other option is left to him? Most of these disabled people go hungry every night for lack of food. Majority of them now depend on relatives and friends if they must survive the next day while some others have taken to street begging. Pathetic? Is the current situation not reversible? Persons in authority should begin to see themselves as instruments in the hands of God to rewrite wrongs naturally imposed on persons with disability. Nobody ever chooses to be blind, lame or deaf. Believe me disability is no respecter of persons. It can occur at any time and anywhere. Why then would someone want to close his ears to the cries from such people like these? Nobody knows tomorrow so as to insulate himself from mishap! Gone are the days when one’s rights can be trampled upon with little or no resistance. We are in a modern age and our leaders need to wake up to these reality. Above all, this is a democracy, government of the people, by the people and for the people. Education is our right. We also have a right to work and these rights must be respected. See articles 24 and 27 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The solution does not lie in deceit but in practical positive approach to the issues as raised. I wonder if you are still following. Narrowing this whole article down to my Imo experience, I make bold to write without exaggeration of the cordial relationship that existed between the disabled community in the State and the immediate past governor of Imo State, Chief Sir Ikedi Ohakim. Without exaggeration, there were a number of things the governor did for us which we can hardly forget. Actual approval for a special school for the blind had since been given by the governor, yet up till now, those whose responsibility it is to tidy up the centre for actual take-off of the school are not living up to expectation. Not too long ago, the governor granted one of us foreign scholarship in the person of Barr. Sunny O. Ezurike which enabled him complete his Master of Laws Degree (LLM) in Human Rights at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom. The only headache here to my mind is what I would want to refer to as abdication of responsibilities by some of the governor’s lieutenants who were seemingly against us and that explained why our various messages expressing our grievances hardly got to the governor and it is high time this trend be corrected. Otherwise, same situation will prevail throughout this current political dispensation in the State. We are persuaded that our current governor can do a lot more for us and we know the will is there. In line with the true spirit of the new rescue mission agenda, I appeal to our governor to help stop poverty from eating too deep into us by offering our teaming members who qualify for jobs jobs. An upward review or Increase in the scholarships and bursary allowances payable to our blind wards in secondary and tertiary institutions to enable them meet up with the current realities of things would be highly appreciated. Equal employment opportunities extended to us and a special school for the blind established in Imo State since the State is the only State in the south-east without such a centre. You will agree with me that these demands are not just realistic, but achievable. These are things that concern our welfare and general well-being. We are directly affected and we will receive no attention if we don’t speak out. This is the reason for this article. It is a truism that governments worldwide are there to serve their people. We want to be given some sense of belonging; we deserve the attention of this government. To fully realise the laudable plans of His Excellency, the executive governor of Imo State, I suggest we be given a voice in the government by way of a political appointment. “Let the head that fits the crown wear it.” My heartfelt prayer is that the Almighty God before whom I stand shall protect you, granting you the much needed wisdom to stir the ship of this State aright. You could be the Lion of our time. Your victory at the polls in 2011 was guaranteed by the love of the masses towards your various charitable programmes while outside the government; God had to overturn and overturn and overturn until you emerged winner in the polls. Justify this God given victory by being fair as much as practicable to everybody. Give everyone what is due him, disabled or not. For whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well! Thank you. Signed: Sunny Ezurike (Esq.) CEO: Redemption International for the Blind