A group under the auspices of Persons with Disabilities Odatiwa Odirorun Forum have thrown its weight behind Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as Ondo State is preparing for the governorship election coming up in November.
The group said the impact and inclusion of PWDs in the governance of the state in the last seven and half years of late governor Rotimi Akeredolu and Lucky Aiyedatiwa administrations could not be taken for granted, hence their support for him.
The chairman of the group, Mr Sola Aiku, stated this in a statement made available to journalists on Monday in Akure, the state capital.
The statement read, “It is our expectation that the good things and dividends of democracy will continue even much better under this Aiyedatiwa administration, and that is why we are promising to mobilise members of the disability communities, their families and friends to vote en masse for Lucky Aiyedatiwa come 16th November 2024.
“While we are playing our parts to support the government, we also need to reiterate our calls for more gains of democracy from the government. We need more employment opportunities for our numerous qualified graduates, reasonable empowerment packages for our artisans, traders and others who have acquired various skills and also seeking continuous palliative packages to cushion the effect of this harsh economy that is seriously biting on all Nigerians.
“We encourage every eligible voter with disabilities to fully participate in all the electioneering activities before the next election, and that they should ensure going out to vote for the winning candidate, who is the luckiest one among all the contestants, Governor Orimisan Lucky Aiyedatiwa so that people with disabilities can continue to enjoy more political inclusions in government, and have the full implementation of the Nigerian Disability Law (2018) in Ondo State during his full tenure in office. Truly, Ondo State is very lucky to have Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.”
The group also disassociated themselves from a protest by some people whom they described as unknown faces among the disability last week, maintaining that Aiyedatiwa had been doing well for the PWDs.
“As a good and progressive forum, PWDOOF is very much aware that the present administration of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa made a great significant of about 50 per cent increment to the 2024 budget of the agency so that it will be able to meet up with its activities knowing fully well that welfare of persons with disabilities is a priority by any government, especially at this critical situation in the country when we are battling with socio-economic challenges.”