BY NGOZI NWANKWO, ABUJA – The National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), has announced the resolve of PWDs to elect quality leaders who would unite Nigeria across religious lines in 2023.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mr. James David Lalu, who announced the resolved of the persons with disabilities at the 4th Quarter meeting of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIRC), held in Abuja, said that the over 35. 5 million Persons With Disabilities spread across the country are seeking platforms for sincere social inclusion through political offices come 2023.
Lalu said the Commission’s synergy with the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council is very key especially at this crucial period that the nation is gearing towards the 2023 general elections.
He further said; “We in the community of PWDs are ready to demonstrate our willingness to change the narrative to meeting the aspirations of Persons With Disabilities in various endeavours.
The Commission’s boss therefore implored religious leaders to make worship centers accessible for Persons With Disabilities.
In his remarks, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha underpinned the critical role that religion plays in our polity, stressing that many politicians in the past, played on the psyche of Nigerians to support their candidates based on religious affiliations.
Mustapha said; “The time has come for Nigerians to apply the all-people Inclusive approach regardless of their religious background”.
The SGF urged religious leaders to be apolitical as the nation approach another major milestone of its political trajectory.
Speaking in turn, the Executive Secretary of NIREC, Rev. Father Cornelius Omonokhua, assured the meeting of the organization’s position on the 2023 elections.
He said; “We will continue to work for the unity of Nigerians from both the Christian fold and the Islamic society for a better understanding and peaceful coexistence”.
In his own remarks, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar III, charged Nigerians to begin to look inwards and develop strategies to solving home grown issues.
He particularly appealed to Nigerians to stop imitating the western world saying that they have their own peculiar challenges as well.
