BODE OLAGOKE, who attended a town hall meeting of the Presidential Campaign Organization of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lafia, Nasarawa state, reports on how it went
The Nasarawa state government city hall in Lafia was filled to the brim on Saturday, 22nd of March, when the All Progressives Congress (APC) brought together thousands of people living with disability into a direct discussion ahead the general elections.
For the deaf, the lame, the blind and many on crutches, it was a moment of recognition, sense of belonging and a rear opportunity to show their love for their own they naturally love unconditionally: APC presidential candidate General Muhammadu Buhari and the state governor, Tanko Almakura.
For Nasarawa state Governor and APC governorship candidate Tanko Almakura, who welcomed the presidential entourage to Lafia city, it was a perfect venue to renew his good relationship with the disable ones.
From the way the Governor freely relate with them it will surprise a first timer in the state to ask questions until he announced his bonafide membership of an organisation comprises of all the disables.
While welcoming the presidential team, the governor told the crowd that the matters concerning people living with disability is a priority to him, saying he been making sure that they get free education to any level in the state. He told the mammoth crowd to do everything possible through their votes to elect General Buhari and himself at the coming polls.
For Dr. Sam Ankeli, the Director, Disability, APC Presidential Campaign Council, it was the first time in the history of democracy in Nigeria that a Presidential candidate was coming face to face with people with disability.According to him, it shows that APC will produce an all inclusive government if given opportunity at center.
Ankeli said: “APC has shown us that they are compassionate, they are faithful, they have integrity, they are fair and they are powerful. I am believing that because we have been included at this level, we are going to participate in governance when they win election and form government in Nigeria and for the first time, Nigeria will have an inclusive government through the APC purview.
“Nigerians with disability are more than 23 million. But no government has remembered us. We are confident that APC, because they have included us at this level will remember us when they form government. The blind will now see not because they have eyes.
But they will see beyond the physical because APC will give us eyes. APC will give legs to the lame so that they can enter where they cannot enter. Gen. Buhari is a man who has compassion and has contributed greatly to Nigeria.
He also told the physically challenged Nigerians that the only hope they have in Nigeria among all the political parties is APC and the man who will carry them to the next level and give them voice in Nigeria is General Muhammadu Buhari.
Addressing the persons with disabilities, General Muhammadu Buhari, assured them that if APC form the next government he will appoint a federal Ombudsman for people with disabilities to combat discrimination against the disabled.
The Ombudsman which will take care of rehabilitation, create employment of disabled persons and ensure participating in public life among other assignment.
Buhari said he agreed with the report that enormous changes are needed towards accepting physically challenged people have rights and also have contributions to the national effort but assured that “by the grace of God, APC wins the elections next week we will fulfil our elections.”
The former head of state who cited several examples to encourage the people also said that disability occurs to men and women at random through illness or accident, adding that with will and spirit, it should not be the end of their usefulness. “All too often, Nigerians afflicted by such calamity resign themselves to a life of begging, despair and poverty. This need not be so.”
The presidential rally for the North-central which also held at the Lafia square the same day could best be described as mammoth in real sense of it. The square of about 3000 capacity adds more than times two of its capacity, even as the party’s supporters outside the venue also double the ones inside the square.
Buhari who arrived the venue at about 2:45 pm in a white bus with other party leaders, were cheered to the venue by the supporters with the “Baba oyoyo” popular song.
Addressing the people, former governor of Kwara state and a senator, Bukola Saraki, assured the candidate of a landslide victory in the North-central. He said Nigerians were tired of PDP government adding that, “Nigerians want a president who will provide for them, who will protect them, who will not squander their resources.”
He challenged the Nasarawa voters to show to the rest of the country at the 28 poll that truly the state belong to APC, noting that Kwara and the rest of North-central states are for APC anytime, any day.
Also, former governor of Benue state and the Senate Minority leader, Judge Akume described Buhari as a true lover of the country, saying if giving opportunity he will move in a fast track the country to the promise land. He believed that by the time General Buhari is swore in, the issue of insecurity and Boko Haram insurgency will be a thing of the past.
In his own, former governor of Kogi state, Prince Audu Abubakar, urged the people to ensure that General Buhari get a hundred per cent vote in the North-central, believing that it was a best thing to do as to end the misrule regime of the PDP.
Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, the first Democratic governor of Nasarawa state, who danced the customized campaign song to entertain the crowd, also asked the people whether they were ready to vote out indiscipline, corruption, bad leadership and vote in prosperity in the country. The responses did not disappoint him either. He told the crowd that many leaders in the country have resolved that it is only Buhari that has what it take to fix the problems of Nigeria, urging Nasarawa people to vote en-mass for him.
For Musa Ibeto, deputy governor of Niger state, Buhari is a saviour of this time, also told the youths not to allowed themselves to be used by unscrupulous politicians. He promised that his state, Nigeria will give Buhari 100 per cent of their votes.
Audu Ogbe believed that by this time next Saturday Nigerians will have elected General Buhari as the next president. He told the crowd that not to mind the propaganda of the PDP, saying people should not make mistake of re-electing the PDP government at all levels.