By: Ade Adeleke
……say he employed 35 of us.
Persons living with Disabilities (PWDs) have expressed appreciation to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for his administration’s various support to better their living standard especially recent employment of 35 of them into the state civil service.
Addressing newsmen at the NUJ Press centre, Akure, the Special Assistant to the governor on special persons, Princess Folasade Arise, said with the recruitment Akeredolu had broken the yoke of over 20 years, noting that the employed 35 graduates who are persons with disabilities, had already received their first salary last month.
Two of the PWDs, Gideon Joseph and Oluwatola Johnson told newsmen that the governor would surely get their votes for giving priority to their welfare.
The special persons, who said they would use their voters’ card to appreciate Akeredolu on October 10, pointed out that the governor had been given them special attention more than any previous government in the state.
Princess Folasade Arise said, “It is my great pleasure to address gentlemen of the press to express our profound gratitude and to pledge our continue support for Mr. Governor (Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN) for his second term in office. This will not have possible if not for the love, care and passion of Mr. Governor for the Special Persons in Ondo State.
“Just to mention few of Mr. Governor’s score cards in the disability community; The Appointment of Special Assistants to his cabinet.
“This is the first time the office with be opened in the history of Ondo State.
Construction of Elevator. Mr. Governor in his care to ensuring persons with disabilities have easy access to his office without any assistant, he constructed an elevator within a short period time.
“Through the logistic support of Mr. Governor, the office of the SA was able to successfully fixed Artificial Limbs worth between N150,000 to N200,000 to 20 Amputees free of charge in the State.
“Increment and regular payment of Annual Subvention to PWDs Mr. Governor has been so magnanimous that the Annual Subvention of various Associations of Persons with Dlsabllities in Ondo State has been released as at when due wlth an upward review of more than 50%.
“On 17th June, 2019 the Board of Agency for the Welfare of Person with Disabilities was constituted by Mr. Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (SAN) and yet he put another PWDs member (Visually Impaired Persons) as chairman while other members of the Board cut across all cluster of PWDs.
“Mr. Governor has broken the yoke of 20 ears unemployed graduates of persons with Disabilities in Ondo State by given employment to 35 members into the Civil Service. As I speak with you, they have received their first salary (August Salary),” Arise stated.
The Special Assistant also spoke on the empowerment of the persons living with Disabilities in the state by Akeredolu’s administration
The SA noted that, “EMPOWERMENT: Series of empowerment programmes have witnessed among our people, this varies from Grinding Machines, Generators and Clippers for our Barbers, Magnify eye glasses and body cream for the Albinos among others.
“Mr. Governor has been very passionate for our community. It is right time to pay back his good job. On this note, I hereby pledge and declare the support of all Persons with Disabilities in Ondo State for Mr. Governor’s second term, 4+4=8. I therefore urge our members to troop out enmasse and cast your vote for Mr. Governor.
“Finally, I wish to once again appreciate the sponsor of today’s Press Conference Mr. Shola Oloruntimilehin who also show his support and love for Mr. Governor and the entire PWDs in the State,” Arise opined.
On his part, Governor Akeredolu said his administration would continue to assist people living with disabilities to achieve their goals in life, if reelected.
Akeredolu represented by the Pro Chancellor, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Dr. Tunji Abayomi said because of the special love he has for the PWDs prompted him to reduce the tuition of special persons at AAUA by 50%.
Also speaking, an APC leader, Mr Shola Oloruntimilehin who appreciated the governor for his magnanimous assistance to the special people, urged PWDs members to come out enmass and vote for the APC governorship flagbearer.