2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS: INCLUSIVE AND ASSESSABLE ELECTORAL PROCESS FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITY.

           “If we take care of all, all will take care of the nation” 

         

    ARISE FOR ALL INITIATIVE IS A SUBSIDIARY OF ARISE NIGERIAN WOMAN FOUNDATION          

                                1, FADEYI STREET OFF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO WAY IKEJA

                                                          Email: thinkingbee@gmail.com

                                                                        Tel: 08088453707.

02/11/2014                                                                     

                                                        PRESS RELEASE

2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS: INCLUSIVE AND ASSESSABLE ELECTORAL PROCESS FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITY.

Equity in Nation Building is the true pathway to a sustainable society and the strength of any society lays in its human capital, therefore all society most provide a level playing field to bring out the best in its entire people, no matter the class, tribe or gender.

Recent field research conducted by our team from monitoring both the Ekiti and Osun elections respectively, indicated several gaps in our electoral process in Nigeria, ie no targeted voters registration campaign for people with disability, inadequate capacity of both electoral officers and state trainers of INEC in meeting the inclusivity and accessibility needs of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. For instance, it was observed that not even one electoral personnel at polling centre’s had basic sign language skills, as well as lacking in the capacity to mobilize and utilize available community resources to provide minimal access for persons with disabilities.

Yet not deterred many and mentioning a few in persons of paralegal sports women and men, the singer Ayefele, Aki & Pawpaw of the Nollywood fame, are people living with disabilities yet known to be contributing to the nation’s economic growth as well as worthy ambassadors of Nigeria. Many more can do more if we make our society inclusive, assessable and participatory for all. If we take care of all, all will take care of the nation, but where there is a growing disparity, we remain limited.

The reality however is that inequality exists, due to stereotyping and age long beliefs, African societies do not develop its manpower with the knowledge that it is its most raw and gifted resources”. Only the potential of the most fit and able groups are fully nurtured while the potential of the people living with disabilities (PWDS) meet with half measures. These groups of people are treated as charity cases left to the mercy of the goodwill of the Nigerian people, thereby creating dependent persons rather than an independent persons as our constitution dictates of the fundamental human rights of all persons. This is pure ignorance and a calamity for our nation.

In view of this, we consider it apt and timely that issues of disability and other issues of inclusion be mainstreamed into all areas of our development. They need to be assured that the rest of us care, and that their well being, their dreams and aspirations too can be realized.

 Many politicians and systems target the youth and women during the electoral campaign for many reasons, but no politician has ever conducted a targeted campaign at the disabled groups. The question is, if they are not on their minds before elections how can they be on their minds while in office?

A starting point and a way forward is FOR ALL OF US TO ARISE FOR ALL”, we are therefore demanding a deliberate policy on mainstreaming disability into all facets of society, starting with the call to make all arrangements in the forthcoming 2015 general elections inclusive and assessable to meet their needs ie, targeted awareness campaigns to register and vote, as well as making the environment conducive and trained support staff on ground to make the experience smooth sailing. 

Arise for All is the social inclusion advocacy platform of Arise Nigerian Woman Foundation.

If you would like more information about this topic or to schedule an interview, please call 08088453707 or send a mail to thinkingbee@gmail.com.