Date: 2016-01-16

Speaker, Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Dr Ali Ahmad has emphasised the need for government and the public to change their perspectives towards the physically challenged in the society.

Represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Matthew Okedare, Ahmad added that caring for the affected persons would give them sense of belonging and feel safe within their immediate environment.

The speaker, in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Shuaib Abdulkadir stated this during a courtesy call of the Emirate Physically Challenged Association to the House of Assembly on Tuesday.

He challenged both Federal, State and Local Government to devise several means by which they could cater for the affected persons in the country.

Ahmad reiterated that such gesture would undoubtedly encourage and enable them to contribute their quota to the growth and development of their immediate environment and Nigeria at large.

Equally, the speaker admonished the physically challenged persons not to always feel inferior to their able bodied counterparts by resorting to alms begging ?on major streets due to their conditions.

Rather, Ahmad stressed that ?they should be determined to live a better life and impact positively to the society.

Earlier, the Chairman ?of the association, Alhaji Ahmed Imam Agbaji had appreciated the lawmakers and called for assistance from government and the public in order to enhance their well-being.

In a related development, the speaker admonished Christians to participate more actively in partisan politics to enable them ?have more impact in the state administration.

Represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Matthew Okedare, Ahmad said this while hosting the executives of the Diocesan Catholic Social Forum (DCSF) ?in his office, calling for support and cooperation for the present administration in the state to succeed.