The State President, Physically Challenged Persons, Adegbesan Oluwakemisola has expressed worry over the ill-treatment of physically challenged persons by some people in the state.
According to her, physically challenged persons have been marginalised in the society and their needs unmet. She told Community Bell, “People accuse us on the road, looking down on us as if we are beggars but we are not, we have educated people among us. Many landlords also look down on physically challenged people, cheat us and fail to assist us.
Calling upon the government to come to the aid of physically challenged persons, she said, “The government should provide an estate for us just the same way there is Tinubu Estate, Buhari Estate and the likes. Even if it is a small apartment, it is okay for us, even if they can provide food for us, we will be happy. In this way, we can reduce the challenges faced by physically challenged persons.”
She beckoned on the government and well-meaning Lagosians to create a safer environment for persons living with disabilities.
The Co-ordinator of Women with Disabilities, Agbado-Oke, Turkson Abigail also advised that the government pay more attention to the women because they need more empowerment. “Most of the women are single mothers and widows, nobody is really taking care of them. It is not about giving them wheelchairs or fifty thousand naira. By the time the money is exhausted, you will see them on the road again begging. You could also see that some of the women are unmarried because no man is ready to put up with a full-time housewife, they want someone that has been empowered. The government should come to our aid and give us a more sustainable form of empowerment.”
