I cannot remember how we met, but the encounter must have been during those days of my representation as Chairman, Plateau State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists. Before then, I had conquered the emotion of ‘pity’, as it is the case in this clime of people who have physical challenges and are assumed to be ‘going’ through difficulties. We assert pity on them and wish it never happened to them. But we have never found out what they feel towards us who pity them.

Those in this category see it from a different prism: Their challenges are their strength. They say there is extra ability in disability. The bottom-line: Disability, for those who know, is not inability. God has specially imbued them with the ability and strength to go the extra mile and achieve what we would have ordinarily thought should be hard for the ‘full-fledged man’.

Therefore, meeting him was, for me; an experience to learn from his world and appreciate the delicate balance that rules mine and his. Assuming I didn’t know, it is possible to imagine a lot of things about that are going on in him and my perception of what we place them in our thoughts.

The journey has been long and tortuous to those who don’t know. He transited to the world of silence twenty four years ago. That is, by any stretch of imagination a long way ago; meaning since he adopted the new language and the culture that go with it, life must have been a journey to hell and back for him.

The fact remains incontrovertible; it must have been a nightmare. Nothing says it all than the word miserable starting life on a different plane. If those around him, particularly his parents and other siblings didn’t understand what he was going through perhaps it would have been more nightmarish than it was. He overcame that, and has since moved on to become what he is today.

To have gone through the new experience and survived is an indication that whatever bad situation one goes through, can be turned into good for the benefit of our lives. Only those who admit that disability can be ability remain committed to be a model to others; not minding the vicissitudes of life.

In fact, not many are like James David Lalu, who by dint of hard work is today the Executive Secretary of National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (PLWDs), Abuja. Again, who would have expected that the ruling government would have considered him as a member of the Governor Mai Mala Buni APC National Caretaker Committee close to about a year now? He, like the other members have been on the committee since June 25, 2020; and indeed has proven not be a bad nomination.

Those who know and may have come in contact with him or have known him while he was not in his condition are quick to point to the fact that God works in miraculous ways, none can comprehend. Has he in any way ever wanted to be pitied as a result of his condition? Did it ever occur to him that people felt pity towards him as a result of the development?

Pity towards him? To him that word, ‘pity’ is an anathema. Perhaps at the beginning it would have been strange; however, now that he has since overcome that stage, he is better placed to offer a word to those who have found themselves in that position. He could even do so with pride, knowing that he has tasted both sides of the divide.

If injections were to have reversed his situation, he certainly would not have been in this state. Only those who do not know may be unaware it was the last of those that sent you to your state. Back at the College of Education, Gindiri, despite his challenges, he was able to contest and won the chapter’s President, National Association of Plateau State Students during the 1996/97 academic session. Long before then his sojourn would have been stopped had he not declined the job offer to have worked in the local government council. God was preparing him for the future, because he gave many the nods to believe that anything can be achieved if one puts himself to it. There is no perfect condition to change the world, than where he is now.

You may wish to ask, how did he cope with the challenge in school? The initial setback must have burnt and dampened the morale of both parents. With a businessman, evangelist father turned politician, Da David Chet’an Lalu and, mother, Laitu David Lalu, his eight other siblings couldn’t have had it easy. Both parents, natives of Mangun in Mangu LGA of Plateau State, had settled in Dokan Tofa, Shendam LGA had sired 9 children, with James being the third.

That did not stop his aggressive pursuit for knowledge from Transferred RCM Primary School, Dokan Tofa running through Pankshin Community Secondary School, Jing, College of Education, Gindiri culminating at the University of Jos, where currently; he is a doctoral student. The world of silence has never been an inhibition; rather, through sheer dexterity has been able to conquer his world to recognition.

He has continually asserted: A person with a disorder in Nigeria does not need pity but love. If you uphold his rights and assert his equality, it is a roadmap to addressing all other needs. Positive attitude will lessen the burden of disability in the society. To him, life is all about sacrifice to humanity, insisting that sacrifice may never attract accolades; but God rewards and sees everything.

That is why when he looks back, it is gratitude that envelops him to give God glory for what he has done in his life; even as he remarks that he remains eternally grateful to Governor Simon Bako Lalong for the ‘double enthronement’, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, a woman he describes as detribalized and Senator Osita Izunaso for even making it the more easier for him. 

He sees his appointment as the Executive Secretary in line with the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2019, as an act of God. He acknowledges the fact that several times, the plight of PLWDs who suffer discrimination in different spheres of the society has the need for a commission to respond to those concerns. The search for some Nigerians to work for the enthronement of the spirit of the act saw to his appointment.

He did same at the Plateau State Disability Rights Commission before his elevation to the national level. But before becoming its chairman, he had served as Senior Special Assistant from 2007-2013. He became a member of the commission from 2013-2015 and subsequently its chairman in 2017 completing it in 2020 when he was called to higher duties same year; where there is increase in responsibility. Perhaps it is reason why his passion and commitment to disability inclusive development remains the same, even though the field has increased.

For this purpose, consider what the National Population Commission estimated in 2018, that no fewer than 19 million Nigerians are living with one form of disability or the other. The law prohibiting discrimination against persons with disabilities was signed January 2019, after over 20 years of advocacy by notable Nigerians, who saw the need for the law in Nigeria.

According to section (1) of the law, anyone found guilty of discriminating against a person with a disability would be liable to a fine N100,000 in the case of an individual or N1 million in the case of an institution or a term of six months in jail or both. The punishment, is seen as deserved as it is cannot be less demeaning to anyone who discriminates a person with disability.

Indeed, going by the provisions of the Act, “The Executive Secretary, who shall be responsible to the Council for the implementation of the policies and administration of the daily affairs of the Commission, shall also be a Person with Disability” and who no doubt understands the needs of such members would be better placed to fight for them; and knowing his persistence, the needs of those in this world can never be underestimated.

By reason of their appointment and geo-political zones’ representation, Dr. Hussaini Suleiman Kangiwa is chairman and six other board members serving on part time basis.

Over the years, there have been various reports by different governments and organizations; the one by the World Health Organisation and the World Bank in 2011, are instructive. In that report, 25 million people in Nigeria have one form of physical disability or the other, accounting for at least 15 per cent of Nigeria’s current population of over 200 million, according to the UN estimates.

Unfortunately, even after the law came into effect, many Nigerians living with disabilities say the journey towards the legal recognition and respect by Nigeria is still far from achieving its desired goal. Several people are of the opinion that the ‘government that approved a new law has literarily helped violate it’.

Persons with disabilities have been marginalised and underrepresented in many facets of societal engagements. Therefore, the establishment of a body to cater for their affairs is a step in the right direction apart from being a welcome development.

The legislation is ‘aimed at improving the welfare and inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWD) in the society. It also provides for a 5-year transitory period from its enactment to enable the modification of public structures and services to meet the needs of PWDs. In addition, the Act is aimed at prohibiting discrimination against PWDs and creating awareness of the rights and dignity of PWDs through the Federal Ministry of Information’.