2016 Int'l Day of Persons with Disabilities

ENDING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES 

        Today, December 3, the world over is commemorating the 2016 International Day of Persons living with Disabilities. The United Nations (UN) Decade of Disabled Persons was held from 1983 to 1992 to enable governments and organizations at all levels to implement measures to improve the life of disabled persons all over the world.

        On October 14, 1992, as the decade drew to a close, the UN General Assembly proclaimed December 3 of every year as the International Day of Disabled Persons. This day was first observed on December 3, 1992. Subsequently, on December 18, 2007, the Assembly changed the observance’s name from the International Day of Disabled Persons to the ‘International Day of Persons with Disabilities’. The new name was first used in 2008. The theme of this year’s anniversary is ‘Achieving 17 goals for the future we want’.

       Disability is the consequence of an impairment that may be physical, sensory, mental, cognitive, emotional, developmental, or a combination of these. A certain disability may be present from birth, or occur during a person’s lifetime. Disability is an umbrella term covering impairments, participation restriction, and activity limitations. Impairment is a plight in one’s body function or structure; participation restriction is a problem experienced by a person in involvement in life situations; whilst an activity limitation is a difficulty encountered by an individual in executing a task or action.

         This implies that disability is indeed a complex phenomenon, reflecting an interaction between features of a person’s body and features of the society in which he/she lives or belongs. For instance, various forms of chronic disease may also qualify as disabilities. Some advocates object to describing certain conditions such as deafness, vision impairment, or autism as disabilities, arguing that it is more appropriate to consider them as developmental differences that have been unfairly stigmatized by the society. In the same vein, others argue that disability is a result of exclusion from mainstream society and not because of impairment.

         The term ‘disability’ broadly describes impairment in a person’s ability to function as an individual, caused by changes in several subsystems of the body or in mental health. The degree of disability may range from mild to moderate, severe, or profound. A person might also be suffering from multiple disabilities. Irrespective of the degree or nature of the disability, it can be measured objectively or subjectively.

         Considering the causes of disability, the condition could be inherited or genetically transmitted; congenital, meaning literally caused by a mother’s infection or other diseases gotten prior to or during pregnancy as well as soon after birth, or via embryonic/fetal developmental irregularities. It could also be acquired, such as conditions caused by illness, injury, or accident; or even of unknown origin, as the case may be.

         There are currently several classes of disability including physical disability, sensory disability, vision impairment, hearing impairment, olfactory and gustatory impairment, balance disorder, somatosensory disorder, intellectual disability, mental disorder, pervasive developmental disorders, and developmental disability, among others. Whichever type that is involved, it is worth noting that an individual with any form of disability can function as effective as, even more effective or efficient than, able-bodied individuals if given the needed support or encouragement.

         Against this backdrop, based on our individual/corporate social responsibilities, we are expected to always endeavour to do everything within our reach and humanly possible to ensure that persons living disabilities at our respective jurisdictions are duly given a sense of belonging starting from the classrooms to working places with a view to strengthening nation building.

        At the various institutions of learning, from primary to tertiary level, rather than discriminating the said set of people, they are meant to be given special attentions by the teachers and management of the schools. For instance, those suffering from vision impairment such as the albinos are supposed to be provided with special sunglasses and also meant to sit at the front of their classrooms or closer to the board. Such treatment ought to be replicated during their various examinations, either internal or external.

         Similarly, during electioneering eras, the electoral umpire is expected to make a different arrangement towards the sensitization of the electorate with disabilities in line with the nature of their challenges. And, on the election days, the persons in question deserve a preferential treatment throughout the polls to enable them cast their votes properly and at ease as demanded.

          More so, it is no longer news that in the labour market as well as political settings, the degree of discrimination faced by persons living with disabilities is presently on the rampage. In view of this, there’s a compelling need for the legislators to enact a strict law that would stipulates a basic statutory percentage of persons with disabilities expected to be found in any public sector, or a certain minimum number of persons with disabilities that must be employed or appointed in the civil service or political arena, respectively, in accordance with the directive of the UN. Establishing a separate ministry coupled with an agency for persons with disabilities would go a long to resolving the anomaly.

          Worse still, it is obvious that recently, several prospective students with disabilities such as HIV/AIDS or physical challenges of most citadels of learning across the country, especially the privately owned tertiary institutions, are invariably deprived of their chances of securing admission thereby making most of them lose interest of furthering their education. Undoubtedly, the level of post-traumatic stress disorder attributed to the aforementioned stigmatization cannot be overemphasized that if adequate and drastic approach is not taken by the appropriate authorities towards ending the anomaly, it is liable to degenerate into an untold societal menace.

         Above all, acknowledging that persons with disabilities easily fall victim of any disaster or crisis owing to vulnerability, there’s no need reiterating that they are meant to be attended to, or treated as a priority during any disaster management. To this end, any personnel/expert involved in the management of any form of crisis ought to ensure that individuals with disabilities that are resident in the affected area are first attended to as well as duly catered for before any other resident.

         As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I enjoin every Nigerian citizen, and civil society organization, to in their respective capacities endeavour to protect the rights of persons living with disabilities. We can actualize this by confronting any norm, cultural belief or perception that condones any kind of discrimination against them. In addition, thorough education cum reorientation among the citizenry as regards ending the menace remains inevitable. Think about it!

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As Anenih Retires, Who and What Next?

AS ANENIH RETIRES, WHO AND WHAT NEXT?

        The last time I checked, the renowned political gladiator – Chief Tony Akhakon Anenih – had graciously retired from active politics. The Edo-born 83-year-old statesman disclosed this penultimate week, precisely on Saturday 26^th November 2016, in Abuja during the public presentation of his autobiography entitled ‘My life and Nigerian politics’.

       ‘I am persuaded that I have no more ambition nor any point to prove in politics. I am, therefore, glad to declare that, from today, I shall be withdrawing from active partisan politics. I shall, however, continue to avail the country of my experience, give suggestions and offer advice, as a statesman’, he rightly stated. He went further to seek support and prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari to steer the country away from recession to prosperity, saying the present difficult situation is a national plight that must be tackled in unison, regardless of affiliations.

        Chief Anenih served as the Minister of Works and Housing from 1999 to 2003 during Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, and was subsequently appointed as the Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). In his early political life, he was state Chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) from 1981 to 1983; later, he emerged as the National Chairman of Social Democratic party (SDP) between 1992 and 1993. He was a member of the Constitutional Conference in 1994. He was the Deputy National Coordinator of the Olusegun Obasanjo’s Campaign Organization in the 1999 and 2003 Presidential elections respectively.

       Considering his age and the level attained in politics, there’s obviously no gain saying that the recent decision taken by him was not just timely and commendable but well informed. Asserting that he has made history, and succeeded in doing what Napoleon couldn’t do wouldn’t be an overstatement, because retirement from political career is one thing an average Nigerian politician sees as a bad omen and forbidden. It appears this is the time to address the anomaly.

       In every profession, one ought to be ready to retire at a ripe age, and politics isn’t an exception. It’s indeed baffling and mind-boggling when we realize that the Nigerian political terrain is awash with men whom are supposed to be acting as grandfathers, or what have you. It becomes more troubling and pathetic to acknowledge that they still nurture ambition to vie for one political position or the other when they are supposed to act as reputable advisers. Some of them who see the country as their farmyard would be of the view, albeit ignorantly, that they are meant to be life president.

        Worse still, some of them would arguably be unhappy that Chief Anenih had gone for a rest at 83. I wonder if such set of persons wanted him to retire at 100, or perhaps when old age has told on him. If truth be told, at 83, Chief Anenih ought to be resident in the clan where he hails from, with a view to acting as an elder kinsman. His gray hair shouldn’t only be a blessing to Nigeria, but his people in particular.

        It has become conspicuous that everyone in the contemporary Nigerian society is afraid of retirement. Those in the civil service are not left out. But, it’s very understandable why on the average, a civil servant in the country is profoundly afraid of going for rest; they are not sure of gratuity and pensions after retirement. When they retire, the politicians sit on the pensions accruable to them as if they need to beg to have their entitlements. It’s only an uninformed mind that’s yet to realize that pensions are cumulated contributions made by a worker while in service.

         Since it’s clear the reason Nigerian workers are invariably filled with fear each time they overhear ‘retirement’, we are yet to know why those in the political circle equally exercise fear. Is it that they are also afraid their pensions wouldn’t be paid, or afraid of taking a sound rest having served meritoriously? Pension payment shouldn’t be their plight, because theirs are intact, even when we think they have been officially deprived of such entitlements. Although most of them aren’t constitutionally eligible to receive pensions, the unofficial pensions they receive on a weekly basis in the name of ‘royalty’ or what whatever is numerically twenty times greater than the wages of a professor in a certain Nigerian university.

        They keep telling the youth that they are the leaders of tomorrow while they are not willing to vacate the seats today. How do you reconcile this? Won’t the youth come in and settle down today before they could lead tomorrow; how possible can they emerge as the leaders come tomorrow when virtually all the positions are presently occupied by these gladiators? Yet, the youth in question seem so myopic to realize that things aren’t at ease. An average Nigerian politician intends to taste all the available political posts, and if he eventually emerged the president of the country having tasted all the lower positions, he would want to remain there till he kisses the ‘six feet’.

        The teeming Nigerian youths have been pushed to the wall to the extent that the few who are politically aware have begun to see revolution as the only option. They shouldn’t be allowed to dwell in such obnoxious mindset, else, soonest we might be colossally taken aback. It’s only in this part of the world that you would see a politician who would never train his aide to become a leader someday; rather, he would wish he remains his aide for eternity. And peradventure, if he eventually decided to rest owing to inevitable old age, he would import his child from nowhere to fill the position.

        As Chief Anenih takes a bow, who is the next person? I expect many others to follow suit. In the state where I hail from, Imo to be precise, there are countless of them. The funniest thing is, most of the existing socio-cultural groups across the federation, such as the Ohaneze Ndigbo, are dominated by these old politicians. If such observation holds water, you may begin to wonder the correlation between culture and politics. Really, things have fallen apart, and this cannot be the arrow of God; rather, manmade. In other words, fixing the problem lies in our bare hands.

        Inasmuch as I candidly bid Chief Anenih farewell, as well as wishing him success all the way in his future endeavours, I would want him to conscientize his allies to join him. Since we are ostensibly in the era of ‘change’, let the change start taking place in every facet, and such change ought to begin with the elders. They must be prepared to lead by example so that we will celebrate them many years after their eternal exit here on earth. Unless there’s something they are not telling us; if so, it’s high time they let the cat out of the bag because time really is ticking.

       Chief Anenih truly deserves tremendous applause for this step taken by his person. But, come to think of it, has he really retired from active politics? Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

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Murdered For Attempted Garri Theft?

MURDERED FOR ATTEMPTED GARRI THEFT?

        If what is currently trending on the social media holds water, then Wednesday, 16^th November 2016 – a day that reportedly claimed the life of a 7-year-old boy owing to alleged attempted misdemeanour – was another day Nigeria, and mankind at large, would live to mourn; a day that would cease to rest until justice is duly done to wickedness; a day that would stop at nothing to ensure that humanity is separated from insanity; a day that could commit murder on attempt to restore normalcy in this seemingly infested society.

        On that fateful day that could be best described as unfortunate, the said kid was reportedly set ablaze by a so-called angry mob at a locality in Lagos State for allegedly attempting to steal ‘Garri’ from a trader’s shop. He was caught by dwellers cum passersby, brutally tortured to stupor, and therein burnt to ashes with fuel and condemned tyres. The report equally had it that, while in the hands of the monsters, he pleaded, and pleaded for freedom, for the umpteenth time, still the vulnerable plea fell on cancerous and deaf ears. Even if he was more than seven or that he was involved in felony as claimed by the police, did it call for such reaction?

        As I lay soberly in my bed the subsequent night to the incident and tried to recall the news, my emotions kept burning till I ostensibly lost my senses that I couldn’t see nor hear anything, not even the like of the horn of a moving train. Therein, my pillows became drenched owing to the intense tears that kept rolling from the subconscious eyelids.

       Whilst in the tattered mood, my utmost worry remained that, the public kept watching the scene until that helpless ‘kid’ was engulfed by the fire; probably they were deriving pleasure from it. Worse still, the scene was videotaped, perhaps having been considered a mere melodrama. Any sane and rational being that takes a closer look at these two observations would begin to wonder how wicked the heart of man is, as well as in whose image he was really made of.

       It’s even more mind-boggling to realize that the police, or any other law enforcement agency, was nowhere to be found throughout the incident that lasted for over an hour. I’m yet to believe that while the duration of administering the obnoxious jungle justice lingered, no bit of notice got to any security outfit within, in spite of the obvious fact that the arena in question is urban. I refuse to be convinced that there’s a district in any state in Nigeria, let alone Lagos, that lacks at least a police station.

       Don’t get it twisted, because the truth remains that some incidents deserve a query and tangible response. You’ll never be right in your feelings till you try to put yourself in the shoes of the bereaved family, if any; ‘if any’ in the sense that it could be the murdered kid was homeless. You can never give this case the thought it truly deserves unless you make effort to painstakingly study what actually transpired therein.

       Let’s assume the kid had a family. How would the parents live to narrate what befell them on that godforsaken day; would they tell the world, particularly sympathizers, that their poor child was put to death because he attempted to steal a handful of garri to quench hunger? Such narration wouldn’t just be hurtful but disastrous; indeed very painful and unspeakable, to say the least. It becomes more painful when we realize that so many unimagined extrajudicial killings had taken place across the country in recent times.

        Since the evil deed is already done, it would be pertinent to jettison retrogressive issues towards concentrating on progressive ones, though the former would invariably be needed if the latter must be successful. As an ardent rights activist, what else would I ask than justice? Regarding this one, the anticipated justice is meant to be all-inclusive, thus not only those who carried out the ungodly act should be dealt with but everyone who witnessed it. My gladness is that, even if they succeed in running away from legal justice, Karma – which unleashes the ultimate justice – will never spare them.

        Few weeks ago, it was learnt that the five prime suspects in connection with the murder of the 74-year-old Mrs. Bridget Abgahime in Kano State had been acquitted by the Magistrate Court handling the case. Mrs. Agbahime who hailed from Imo State was gruesomely killed on 2^nd June 2016 at Kofar Wambi market over alleged blasphemy by a group of Islamic fanatics. According to the report, the freedom granted to the accused wasn’t unconnected with the directive of the Kano State’s Attorney General.   

        This implies that, as we await justice from a legal proceeding, let’s not forget that Law of Karma supersedes all. God will relentlessly fight for the vulnerable and tailless cow.  However, I can’t help but continue to marvel whether ‘Obi’ would remain a boy in respect of Nigeria’s pattern of issuing justice. Isn’t it time he metamorphosed into a full-blown man?

        Believe it or not, those who lynched the poor kid are already feeling nauseous, even as the wrath of the law is yet to catch up with them. Just imagine; rather than giving him foods to eat, they preferred to become fools. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor

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