The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Coucil for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has in addition to urged state governors to emulate Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal by paying monthly stipends to People Living With Disability (PLWD).
The revered royal father also assured that he would make the Sultanate Palace more accessible to people living with disability.
The Sultan spoke when he received the Executive Secretary, National Commission for People Living With Disability, Mr James David and his entourage at his palace in Sokoto.
He also wondered why the PLWD should be tagged disability people when they have unimaginable abilities.
The Sultan said, “I feel there should be a way where wheelchairs can drive into the palace. That is going to be the first thing we must do making sure that we have also become wheelchair friendly palace.
“If you want to promote something, then, start it yourself. It is important for us to know some of these issues and it is by coming together with you like these that we will be able to know what are the challenges you go through”.
Noting that people often see PLWD as forgotten in the society, the Sultan stated that he doesn’t like using the word disabled in discribing them, saying there is ability in disability.
He said, “They are not disabled. They are only challenged and challenged by Almighty Allah who created us. And all of us are equal. We are the same. Almighty Allah created us the way He did and that is His own choice. For some is by accident and nobody can challenge. It is Almighty Allah’s wish. So we accept it like that”.
The respected traditional cum religious leader recalled that the United States once had polio survivor as its President.
He said, “I want to assure you that the journey has just begun. I will work with this National Commission on People Living With Disability to see how we can educate everybody, especially the leaders in this country about this commission and it’s work.
“And I want to assure the commission that it has a very, very reliable friend and partner in me being the Sultan”.
The Sultan further urged James and his team to write formally to the NAREC to come and talk to them at their Lagos meeting slated for September, 2022.
“From there, we will take it up so that let Muslims and Christians know that these people that are challenged are part and parcel of us and must be catered for, and giving due attention”, the Sultan added.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary of National Commission of PLWD, Mr James David, said he and his entourage were in the palace to seek the royal support from Sultan of Sokoto.
James, who admitted people might be looking at them differently because of their conditions, stated that all human beings are the same before Almighty God.
He said, “Disability makes us different in this world but we are all one before God”.
James was accompanied in the courtesy visit by the acting chairman of the NCPLW Acting Chairman Governing Council, Mrs Amina Audu, and Assistant Director in the Commission, Mr Muhammad Baba.
Others are friends of the Commission, Mr Samuel Kwankur, Aisha Abdullahi, Muhammad Galadima, Muazu Habibu and Abdullaziz Ibrahim.
James also noted that the 19 years old struggle for a national law on the rights of PLWD received government’s approval with the signing of National Commission of PLWD by President Muhammadu Buhari into law on August 17, 2019.
According to him, the law prohibits all forms of discrimination against their members.
He also disclosed that their mission is to among other things organize a national summit for religious leaders of all major faiths in Nigeria on inclusion of PLWD in their dealings.
Calling on Nigerians to give PLWD the opportunity to lead themselves and even this country some day, James thanked Sokoto State Government for paying stipends to PLWD.
He said, “We pray that in no distance time, Nigeria should have a Governor or President or political leader that is of the PLWD”.
