PHOTO: Sultan of Sokoto (middle) in a group photograph with delegation from National Commission of PLWD who paid him a courtesy visit today in his palace. PHOTO BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto –
The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar 111 has assured that he would make the make the Sultanate Palace more accessible to Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWD).
The Sultan also urged Nigerian governors to emulate Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State by paying monthly stipends to PLWD in their various states.
He made the call when he received in audience the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for People Living With Disability (NCPWD), Mr. James David Lalu and his entourage at his palace in Sokoto.
He said: “I feel there should be a way where wheel chairs can drive into the palace. That is going to be the first thing we must do making sure that we have also become wheelchair friendly palace”.
“If you want to promote something, then, start it yourself. It is important for us to know some of these issues and it’s by coming together with you like these that we will be able to know what are the challenges you go through wondered why they should be tagged disability people when they have unimaginable abilities.
While noting that people often see PLWD as forgotten in the society, Sultan said he does not like using the word disabled in describing them, hence there is ability in disability.
The sultan said: “They are not disabled. They are only challenged and challenged by Almighty Allah who created us. And all of us are equal. We are the same. Almighty Allah created us the way He did and that is His own choice. For some is by accident and nobody can challenge. It’s is Almighty Allah’s wish. So we accept it like that”.
The respected traditional cum religious leader recalled that America once had polio survivor as their President.
He said: ” I want to assure you that the journey has just begun. I will work with this National Commission on People Living With Disability to see how we can educate everybody, especially the leaders in this country about this commission and it’s work.
“And I want to assure the commission that they have a very, very reliable friend and partner in me being the Sultan”.
Sultan further admonished Mr James and his team to write formerly to the NAREC to come and talk to them at their Lagos meeting slated for September, 2022.
“From there we will take it up so that let Muslims and Christians know that these people that are challenged are part and parcel of us and must be catered for, and giving due attention”.
Speaking earlier, Mr James David, the Executive Secretary of National Commission of PLWD said they were in the palace to seek the royal support of the Sultan of Sokoto.
Mr James who admitted people might be looking at them differently because of their conditions, added however that all human beings are the same before Almighty God.
He said: “Disability makes us different in this world but we are all one before God”.
Continuing, Mr James noted that the 19 years old struggle for a national law on the rights of PLWD got government nod with the signing of National Commission of PLWD by President Muhammadu Buhari into law on 17th August 2019.
According to him, the laws amongst other importance prohibits all forms of discrimination against their members.
He further divulged that their mission is to among other things organize a national summit for religious leaders of all major faiths in Nigeria on inclusion of PLWD in their dealings.
While calling on all and sundry to give PLWD the opportunity to lead themselves and even this country some day, Mr James thanked Sokoto state government for paying stipends to PLWD.
“We pray that in no distance time, Nigeria should have a Governor or President or political leader that is of the PLWD”. Mr James prayed.
The Executive Secretary of NCPWD was accompanied in the courtesy visit by the Acting Chairman of the NCPLW Acting Chairman Governing Council, Mrs Amina Audu, an Assistant Director in the Commission, Mr Muhammad Baba.
Others are a friend of the Commission, Mr Samuel Kwankur, Aisha Abdullahi, Muhammad Galadima, Muazu Habibu Ns Abdullaziz Ibrahim.
