The Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities, Osun State chapter, has appealed to the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, to appoint one of them as a member of his cabinet.
JONAPWD members expressed displeasure that the administration of Adeleke did not deem it necessary to appoint a person with disability to represent them in his government.
They asked Governor Adeleke to consider their support and votes during the July 16, 2022 governorship election in the state, saying that appointing an able person to coordinate the affairs of PWDs was unacceptable.
A statement issued by the chairman of the state chapter of the association, Stephen Oluwafemi, on Sunday, noted that there were many competent technocrats among the PWDs who would add value to the government of the People’s Democratic Party.
It leads, “It is no more news that His Excellency, Governor Ademola Adeleke, has appointed his commissioners without a single person with disability. Now, we are aware that Special Advisers to the Governor are already shortlisted for public announcement. We are appealing to Mr. Governor to put the right peg in the right hole and also do the necessary thing by considering our plights and support over time.
“Appointing an able person to lead persons with disability is absolutely unacceptable to us. We want our amiable governor to remember that it is not only during elections that PWDs have voting priority, our plights should be prioritised in government and administration too. Without inclusiveness in the Osun government cabinet, it is injustice to us.
“Perhaps, the government of the People’s Democratic Party is telling us, the PWDs in Osun, that we are not competent, educated and skillful to participate in Governor Adeleke’s cabinet. We want our governor to remember that 90 per cent of PWDs in Osun voted for him, so, why deprive our constitutional right?
“Mr. Governor must include PWDs in his cabinet; that is what all PWDs in Osun State are demanding for. We need representation in government and we believe that our listening governor will make us happy in this regard.”
