Physically Challenged Man Wants Govt. Ibikun Amosun to Grant His Birthday Wishes, Writes Inspiring Message to All Nigerians with Disability

• A physically-challenged man has penned down a powerful letter to Nigerians with disabilities, including the Governor, Ogun State requesting a favour for his bithday

• Adebesin Abiodun Abacha wants the governor to assent to the state’s Disability Bill

• The moving letter, written by the disabled, talks about what it means to be disabled and the future of disability in Nigeria

• The disabled letter writer is also asking the governor for a “birthday gift”

• Ms. Adebesin Abiodun wants the Governor’s assent to the Bill which is known to be his birthday wish that he is requesting of the governor

A physically challenged man has taken to his Facebook account talk to Nigerians about disabilities, and to the Governor of Ogun Sate about his birthday wish.

Known as Adebesin Abiodun Abacha, the disabled individual has taken to his Facebook account to write an inspiring message to all Nigerians with disabilities. He also wants governor Ibikun Amosun to assent Ogun state Disability Bills as his birthday wishes.

The letter reads:

“MY BIRTHDAY MESSAGE TO ALL PERSON WITH DISABILITY IN NIGERIA

IN THE BEGINNING, NOW, AND WHAT IT COULD BE AFTER.

Today is my birthday. And I have chosen to reflect as a disabled. A Nigerian disabled, I am; an adult male. Taking away my physical challenge, I will pass all other tests – mental, psychological, etc as will be found in a normal human being. What way forward however for Nigerians who live with disabilities – the unenviable members of my community?

I wear the shoe and have been feeling the pains. Life began on a pathetic note for me. I cannot forget my precarious childhood experience as I grew with disability. The story may be different but the experience is the same for all of us living with disabilities.

First, my early growth painted me as a second class citizen. The society only recognized my type as people with disabilities, not citizens with equal identity. I am very fortunate my parents did not paint the same ugly picture. My parents, siblings and friends that are very close to me showed interest in my education probably because they realized the potentials in me and they gave me the hope to realize my potentials. The society and the policy makers did not give me the platform to achieve God given potentials, to them, what good would come from a “half vegetable?” The door of education was almost shut because the infrastructure are not disability friendly.I would walk long distances from my home to school and back everyday.

I was sad knowing that I couldn’t take part in most things people did. I stomached any hobbies or passion that I had.

My plans for the future were only a fantasy. My parents decided how I should run my life in a way that would not inconvenience them.

I love to do things in my own way. But my situation didn’t  make things a bit easy for me. And in most cases, I didn’t like to inconvenience anyone “I didn’t people seeing only my disability, thinking, ‘Oh no, here he comes, what does he want this time?’”

Even, at home, I have tripped and fell several times. There had been occasions when I would be looking for somebody to help me up and then realizing that I was on my own. That taught me the value of independence. I would struggle back on my feet. Burdensome as the experiences often were, most times I refuse to ask anybody for help. It’s the method I have chose to teaching myself survival in a world always re-emphasisng my disability.

In a world where living through disability depends on charity, my disability gave rise to a substantial curtailiment of my ability. People will rather drop coin on the charity bowl than open windows for self-improvement.

People will prefer to mock you carry out simple routine like getting up from bed than teach you to overcome the unwilling hurdles.

As a disable, was I able to make friends? Play and visit friends as normal do? Were there those who wanted to be seen with me? Parents who do not feel embarrassed when their child bring home this somewhat “abnormal being,” a different specie?

But all these were part of the past. Now I have grown, with many of these woes behind. But, it’s important that people with disabilities speak out. We are tired of this social neglect by government, traditional, cultural, social, religious and corporate group. It is the worst inhumanity of man to man. The disabled is tired of:

1. Discrimination;
2. Mental, psychological and physical torture;
3. Denial of care and opportunities;
4. Lack of social security;
5. Being seen as burdens;
6. Not having outlets to do prove their worth and potential;
7. Not having access to environmental and social services.
8. Continously being denied and sidelined from jobs and other opportunities they skill or have trained for.

What do the disabled need? Certainly, not pity or sympathy. Among other things, the needs of the same are same for all human beings. We require:

1. family support and encouragement;
2. a secure home  adapted to our needs;

iii the society to recognized and accept us as human beings and creation of God;

1. Provide us with economic opportunities through which to learn a living.

The one word that describes the debt the society owes us is: INCLUSION. LEAVING NO ONE BEHIND. Stop casting us aside. Stop treating us as objects of pity. Stop exploiting our misfortune. Stop the confession. Disability is a circumstance of life. It can happen anytime and to anybody.

Government will always remain the major agent in the improvement of the life of the disabled person. It is the reason why the government of Ogun State must sign the disability law. With the law, people living with disabilities will have a new impetus. We will be in a position to fulfil the destiny that God has put in place for us. Disability is not a curse. It can be overcome.”