From Everest Ezihe, Owerri
Mrs Precious Moses Orji , an Imo State born 2016 world record breaking Paralympics gold medalist in power lifting,(160 kg) has reeled out the litany of woes women living with disability suffers in the hands of the general public, lamenting that the worst self deceit is that they are discriminated against in terms of marriage, but at night, the same people would like to abuse them sexually.
Moses Orji who’s a mother of two and married in Abazu Ogwa in Umueze Abazu Ogwa autonomous community in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State made this sterling revelation in Owerri during an interactive media parley with these segments of special citizens as organized by Center For The Right To Health,(CRH) as part of the programmes for a 3- day residential training workshop for selected Imo State based Journalists.
Recall that CRH is a non governmental, non profit organization that promotes zero tolerance for violence against women and girls with disability held the intensive executive programme at Gold Crown hotel, Owerri.
According to her, ” honestly, it’s annoying when people discriminate against us in marriage but in the night, the same people would have the desire and effonetry to abuse us sexually.because we’re physically challenged, we cannot easily move around, people unduely insults, abuse and molest us.
“I felt emotionally, physically and psychologically devastated, when people were making mockery of me, when I was pregnant, they’re questioning my God, as if I cannot deliver like people assumed to be normal. They were pitying me, as if I will deliver under caeseran operation, but my God did them, shut up ! And I had safe, and normal delivery. If there’s anything, I hate in life, it’s pity from my fellow human being. I have good home training, and loved by my parents and siblings, especially my beloved father.
” Women living with disabilities who are into sports are mostly, victims of use and dump. Once you are married or have injury, there are tendencies, that you are, on your own. The authorities frowned at my getting married. I had serious injury while representing Nigeria in 2020 Paralympics,am nursing the injury till date, doing self medical sponsorship, despite every appeal to the authorities in charge, the best appreciation I could received from my country, Nigeria is dumping me from participating in national and international games even when I have recovered and in good form for any competition.
“Am not physically challenged, but it’s the society that a times makes me to feel same, I have good home training despite been physically challenged.The Nigerian society treat us like third class citizens, every day, we are psychologically and emotionally tortured and raped by the attitude of our fellow men towards us, unlike in other countries of the world, where people with our plights are honoured, respected and cared for. But rather in Nigeria we are humiliated, isolated and treated as nobody.
” It’s important to educate Nigerians that there are abilities in disabilities. We are equally created by God for destined purposes. We all are equal before God. We don’t need pity but an enabling environment. With respect and right attitude, certainly, we will thrive. We are so grateful to Center For The Right To Health (CRH) for their concerns, advocacy and sensitization programmes. It’s only Almighty God that can reward them adequately” she passionately prayed .
While further commending CRH for crusading for their welfare and public acceptance under the organisational vision and mission of : Unite To Prevent Violence Against Women With Disabilities, Moses-Orji insisted that women and girls that are physically challenged, deserves to be respected with inclusiveness in all works of life.
She maintained that the society should stop seeing them as evil and never do wells, after all, every body in life is disabled in one way or the other, lamenting that as special citizens, that they shed tears every day as they go about for sense of belonging in terms of socioeconomic activities.
Moses-Orji further expressed dismay that most public and private buildings in Nigeria have no ramp to ease their accessibilities and that their woes are compounded by high level of family discrimination they are equally being subjected into, and they have suffered alot in terms of exclusion in every endaevour of life.
” We have potentials to contribute in the upliftment of the Nigerian society. We should be treated with respect and dignity, after all, most of us are extremely intelligent and more educated than our oppressors. We should be given opportunity for employment. We are products of God creation, unfortunately, most members of the society have caused us so much emotional and psychological pains” she insisted.
