BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
A physically challenged school administrator, John Lekpa, has advised people living with disabilities to explore their divinely endowed talents and stop begging for alms so as to contribute to the developmental growth of the nation.
The 45-year-old father of six, who became crippled at the age of three following an injection he received against polio, said it is wrong to depend on begging as means of livelihood notwithstanding the circumstances one finds oneself in life.
Lekpa opined that nobody is born without a unique potential and enjoined people with disabilities to harness theirs irrespective of all odds for better living.
In an interview with The Point in Abakaliki, Lekpa said, “I don’t beg for alms on the streets as generally done by people with disabilities because I am not a beggar. It is a thing of the mind. I may not have functional legs but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. When I grew up and was told how I became crippled, I made up my mind that I must earn my living. I have many goals in life and can’t depend on alms to solve them.
“I told myself I will make a difference in the world of disabilities. Proceeds from begging for alms on the streets are not what I want. I honourably earn my living as a School Administrator at a Special School, Our Lady of Compassion’s Center for Handicapped & Underprivileged, Okpaugwu Abakaliki. This goes a long way to tell everyone that the saying that there is ability in disabilities is a hundred percent known fact.
“I was not born crippled. According to my mother, they noticed I started having difficulties in walking at the age of three after being immunized against polio. I don’t know whether it is the fault of the health worker, the then method of immunization or the drug itself but in all things, I give God the praise that the effect was just on my legs.
“I encourage other physically challenged people in Nigeria to stop being liabilities. Stop being burdens to people by depending on begging for alms for their upkeep. If you don’t have functional legs like me, you have hands, you have vibrant brains, you have eyes, you have voice. If you don’t have eyes you have super brains and eloquent speech and singing voice.
You can release music albums. Others can learn shoe making, hair dressing and sewing.
“I see the act of begging as an act of laziness. Work hard and if someone sees you struggling and decides to help, fine.
This comfortable begging lifestyle of physically challenged persons in Nigeria is why the federal and state governments do not care about our welfare. We are exposed to all manners of discriminations. Under normal circumstances, there should be a separate Federal Ministry for people with disabilities, because what is good for geese is good for the gander. There should be provisions for the ministry in the national budget. I strongly believe that there are abilities in disabilities if our talents are well harnessed,” he said.
