Despite the directive barring people from celebrating him on the occasion of his 72nd birthday, the Community of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria at the weekend convened in Abuja to celebrate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
At a birthday bash organized on behalf of the president at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, the PWDs applauded President Tinubu for his humanity, caring passion and commitment to the welfare of Persons With Disabilities in Nigeria.
They noted that even though the president had directed that Nigerians should not celebrate him on this year’s birthday, they were overwhelmed by the president’s achievements and support for them within the short time he has been in office and cannot afford not to celebrate him.
Speaking with journalists during the event, one of the PWDs on wheelchair, Mrs Glory Moses, said, ”We are extremely overwhelmed with joy with what our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done for us particularly in the area of inclusivity but we urge them to do more.
He has provided jobs for Persons With Disabilities. He gave us palliatives to help us reduce the effect of the economic hardship on our people. We appreciate him. We prayed that God will continue to bless and keep him.”
On his part, president of Nigerian Association for the Blind (NAB), Stanley Onyebuchi, lauded President Tinubu for appointing one of them “as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities.”
Onyebuchi implored the president to do more by issuing a presidential directive that will facilitate easy implementation of the National Disability Act particularly in the area of employment for persons with disabilities.
He called for increased funding to the National Commision for Persons With Disabilities and budgetary allocation to the office of SSAP, urging the president to increase the percentage of social interventions to PWDs.
Also speaking with journalists at the event, the convener of the event and founder of Queen Adenike Tejuosho Foundation, Dr Halimat Adenike Tejuosho, thanked President Tinubu for creating enabling environment for Persons With Disabilities to thrive in the country.
She also commiserated with the President over the death of 17 soldiers and officers in Delta community while on a peace keeping mission.
Dr. Tejuosho noted that her passion to see the vulnerable and under-priviledged people live a better life is the drive behind her foundation’s support and interventions programmes.
She stated that she decided to support the community of Persons With Disabilities with the birthday celebration in order to make them feel happy since it is their desire to celebrate the President on that day.
Also in attendance were senior citizens, intelligence chiefs, top legal lumanaries, and top political associates of the president.
They all thanked the convener of the event, Dr. Tejuosho, promising to give her more support and encouragement in her unflinching support for President Tinubu’s fight against corruption and his welfare for the Nigerian citizens.