Mr Ojo Bamidele, an Executive, People With Disabilities (PWDs) in Ojokoro LCDA, has attributed the low turnout of its members at the local councils’ polls held in Lagos to the inaccessibility of polling units.
Bamidele, who cast his vote at ward C, unit 016, spoke on the sidelines of the just-concluded Local Governments (LGs) and Local Council Development Authorities (LCDAs) Elections in the state.
According to him, it’s not enough to sensitise PWDs on voter education and how to cast their votes, but measures must also be put in place for members to access polling units.
“We have people living with disabilities who are eligible voters in the seven wards in this Ojokoro, but there are lacunas, especially on mobility. We need the government to come to our aid, especially during elections.
“There should be minibuses (Korope) on standby that will be stationed at each ward because each ward has special people.
“You know that vehicles are restricted; therefore, some of us that are using wheelchairs find it difficult to move to polling units to exercise our civic rights by way of voting.
“I, personally, have a tricycle that I use as a mobility aid, which gives me an opportunity to go and cast votes at the polling unit and move round to assist other members in various wards; however, there’s a limit to what I can do.
“Thank God for the financial support from Hon. Olabinjo to fuel my tricycle. So, the government and the candidates should ensure that we partake in governance by making adequate arrangements in subsequent exercises.
“We all know that the visually impaired need caregivers, somebody that will guide him or her to cast the vote. Likewise, we have hearing-impaired persons here as well, yet there are no interpreters,” he added.
Bamidele, therefore, called on the government, agents, individuals, and philanthropists to put smiles on the faces of the vulnerable, describing the PWDs as the most vulnerable.
He also enjoined the new committee in every local government not to pay lip service to the PWDs as the mainstream of governance but rather to consider them for political appointments.
“The Federal Government is running an inclusive government, and Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu also runs Social Inclusion Team+ Agenda, which encourages our people to perform their civic rights knowing there are benefits.
“We have graduates among us, HND holders and graduates. We are not all artisans, so, what is good for the goose is good for the gander.
“I, therefore, urge that we should be considered in anything the government is doing,” he stressed.
