My Word
Political events in the last few months regarding individuals' aspirations to various elective positions in the next dispensation come 2023 have really called for serious reflections and purposeful actions which should engender unity of purpose, inclusiveness of physically challenged persons, equity and justice as necessary precursors for the peace and progress that have so eluded us for over a decade now. Beyond the expressed desires to occupy elective positions and for political affiliations or alignments is the urgent need to harmonize and harness individuals including persons living with disability in the political interests in an agreeable context to establish a convergence of all the strategic segments of the polity for inclusive government.
It may appear hard to do so but our catastrophic drift to perdition occasioned by our in-cohesion as a people must stop. Equity and Justice should no longer be compromised for political expediency. This is the central thesis of the very many representations to me and has really framed the basis of my inspiration to aspire to represent the good people of Okene II come 2023.
*MY REFLECTION;*
Our troubled political history has led to a displacement of the power balance, imposition of mediocrity and none inclusion of PWDs in Elective position. This has nearly taken us our whole political and economic existence and seek even to deprive us of our historical pride and culture as persons living with disability. This violation of our civilization or right has made our community to live in misery. Some years ago, Our community PWDs have been deprived of the means of moral and material happiness.
*DECLARATION;*
From the depth of my heart and with utmost sincerity of purpose, I, Yakubu Nazir Abdulhakeem has declared to aspire for an elective position come 2023. The youths and Persons Living with Disabilities should be inclusive in politics from whatever redemptive effort that I may have been identified with, to a platform where I will be able to institutionalize programmes of restitution of Disabled Community in Kogi Central of Kogi State. I consider Okene II Constituency of Kogi State House of Assembly as a vital space and critical place to test our abilities in disability over which I have every right and responsibility and upon which I will be subjected to judgment of posterity.
My physically challenged situation is in no way different from President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria, David Madison Cawthorn, an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for North Carolina and Franklin D. Roosevelt who also ruled the Great American for two tenures as the President and many others but to mention a few.
The few Great Men I mentioned now are on wheelchairs and they performed excellent job in there countries which simply mean it is Brain not Legs.
We can no longer afford to have people in strategic positions of trust who will turn their backs on the pathetic plight of the toiling masses with contemptuous ignominy. No! Now is the time to revert from the politics of investment to politics of service and give chance to person's living with disability to prove their abilities on them to the world as President Muhammad Buhari and Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello had signed Disabilities bill into law.
It is therefore in patriotic response to the challenge of providing our people with qualitative, responsive and purposeful representation in Kogi State House of Assembly that I most humbly step forward to make myself available to represent the people of Okene II Constituency in the Kogi State House of Assembly come 2023. I offer myself for service that is total and devoid of the infamous quest for self enrichment. To me, the privilege and opportunity of leadership, particularly at the legislative level, is an opportunity to serve and represent the people sincerely to please God Almighty and humanity. In seeking the mandate to represent our people in the Kogi State Assembly; I am fully aware and conscious of the fact that the position of a state lawmaker is highly exalted and politically strategic for the collective destiny of our people. As expected, a member of the Kogi State House of Assembly must be articulate, experienced, sufficiently educated and vocal, and these buttress my saying Brain not Legs.
I am qualified to contest for Okene II House of Assembly of Kogi State come 2023.
If Abdelaziz Bouteflika can do it, I can do it.
If David Madison Cawthorn can do it, I can do it.
If Franklin D. Roosevelt can do it, I can do it.
If Nigeria is really learning from Developed countries, physically challenged inclusiveness in elective post should be considered. Okene Local Government produces two House of Assemblies and person's living with disability has to been considered a slot for sake of present law in Nigeria PWDs inclusiveness in all ramifications.
I am ready to serve better than you think.
*Credit:*
_Comr. Yakubu Nazir Abdulhakeem_
*Brain not Legs 2023*