Politics
PWDs visit APC headquarter to appreciate party, Buhari for free nomination forms
Persons with Disabilities (PWD) on Friday stormed the National headquarters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to thank the party for making nomination forms to contest for positions under the party’s platform free for PWDs.
They also said they came to the party headquarters to thank President Muhammad Buhari for giving them a voice by creating a Commission for them as well as the disability law that makes it compulsory for 5% of PWDs to be employed in any government agency.
The group who gathered in their numbers at the entrance gate of the party also drummed support for Governor Yahaya Bello’s ambition to contest for the presidency.
They said the Governor had domesticated the disability law in Kogi State hence they expressed the confidence that if he wins the Presidency, PWDs matter would be his priority.
The chairman Kogi State disability board, Hon Ibrahim Daniel Arome, said the board he chairs was established by Kogi State Governor
“We want to let everybody know that the inclusion we have been yearning for can only be found in the party APC under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari who made it possible for us to have a voice.
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“Also in Kogi State, Governor Yahaya Bello has domesticated the disability law and today though on a wheel chair I live a free and fulfiled life like any other person.
“So many of us that have been so neglected by the society, APC has given us a voice, Gov Yahaya Bello who we are expecting to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari has also given us the same voice in Kogi State.
“You are seeing us in our numbers to attest to the fact that Bello believes in people like us. He is the only man who has PWD as the national coordinator of his campaign council in the history of all those aspiring to be President.
“This is the only Governor who has given automatic ticket for Ankpa 1 State Constituency to a PWD after pleading with able bodied men that were contending with him and they understood why the PWD should be in the law making business and today we have a PWD who will fly the APC flag during the next election.
The deputy speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly Rt Honorable Ahmed Muhammed commended governor Bello for making the issues of People With Disabilities a priority. He also thanked the party for giving an opportunity to a PWD to represent Ankpa 1.
“It is a great joy for myself as a member representing Ankpa 1, he is going to take over from me in 2023. I want Nigerians to know that the Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello is for all. A man that is practical about the inclusion of PWDs “Look at Arome though on a wheelchair but Bello made him the State chairman of the board on PWDs.
“I proposed this disability bill sometimes two years ago and because of the Love Bello has for PWDs, what I labored for has come to reality.
“I have been doing a lot in my constituency, I have built houses for PWDs and I am so happy today that my constituency is going to be the first to benefit from my Labour, I appreciate APC and Yahaya Bello.
The executive secretary of the Kogi State Office for Disability Affairs
Barr. Zacchaus Dare Martin said they came to the APC party headquarters to appreciate the leadership of the party for harkening to their agitation to make nomination forms for People Living With Disability, PWD free of charge.
“We made a national protest asking for APC to declare forms free for PWDs and as a listening party they obliged us the request.
“Today, that has in no small measure brought major PWDs who are highly educated and politically agile to showcase their leadership capacity across the states.
“They are contesting for Senate, House of Reps and State Assembly seats because the forms are free.
“We want them to succeed. Nigeria will never go back to Egypt. Under His Excellency, Dr. Abdullahi Adamu as the National Chairman, APC will coast home to victory in all our elections.
“Another reason why we are here this morning is to appreciate the man I will describe as an angel sent to us for a special mission, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the governor who over the years has given listening ears to the voice of PWDs.
“He gave them appointments as special advisers, senior special advisers, board members and more importantly, he gave them assignments, not in area of disability.
“There is a visually impaired person who is Special Adviser on Media. He does this to show that he believes in their capacity to showcase their potentials.
“More importantly, His Excellency recently established Kogi State Office for Disability Affairs. It is the first of its kind, in the history of Kogi State no agency, no commission, no board has been in charge of PWDs for inclusiveness, but Bello has changed the narrative.
“He gave an agency today that is saddled with the responsibility of taking care of PWDs in Kogi state.
He said Bello has directed that 39% should be reserved for PWDs in the forthcoming employment of teachers in the State.
He said there are many of the PWDs are graduates in different fields, but because of stigmatisation, they are not given jobs.
“As we speak, the only PWD who aspired to go to Kogi State House of Assembly was given automatic ticket by Governor Yahaya Bello to run.
“He has also promised to give him all the support he needs to ensure he wins.
“It is a good omen.
Among all the presidential aspirants, Yahaya Bello is the only one that has a directorate for PWD. It means if he is finally elected Nigerian president, a new chapter will be opened in the lives of this vulnerable people with potentials. “He believes there is ability in disability.
We are here today to thank him and appreciate him for all he has done and what he is yet to do for us.
“We want to use this window to endorse him for President. We are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to help us garner support for him because if he is elected Nigerian president he will give attention to the needy in society as he has demonstrated as a governor.
APC members are reeling from the tragic death of Alaba Abe, also known as Excel, a coordinator of the Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers Independent Council (LACO-FSIC) in Akoko South-West Local Government Area of Ondo State.
According to a statement by LACO-FSIC’s State Information Director Kayode Fasua, Excel was fatally shot in front of his residence in Supare town on Saturday, April 27th.
He characterized the deceased campaign coordinator as “resourceful,” further noting that the news has stunned members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the council.
The statement reads “The Lucky Aiyedatiwa Campaign Organisation Foot Soldiers Independent Council (LACO-FSIC) on Sunday decried the gruesome murder of one of its ward coordinators in Akoko Southwest Local Government area of Ondo State, Mr. Alaba Abe Excel, with an appeal to the police authorities to protect its members against implacable opponents.
Fasua quoted Mr. Nurudeen Kazeem, the LACO-FSIC Director of Information and Online News for Akoko Southwest, expressing that the incident was a rude shock to APC members in the local council, who were dedicated to the governor’s election in November this year.
In response, Hon. David Ajobiewe, the Director-General for the LACO-FSIC in Akoko Southwest Local Government, also echoed the sentiment, describing the incident as a rude shock.
He said “Excel had been a resourceful coordinator for the Aiyedatiwa campaign organisation in Ward 10 of Supare and was never known to be violent and never had any history of local or domestic dispute.
“We urge the police authorities to step up investigations into his gruesome murder and bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book.”
Meanwhile, the Convener of the LACO-FSIC, Dr. Oladipupo Okeyomi, also known as Carry Go, along with Co-convener Prince Biyi Poroye, conveyed heartfelt condolences from Governor Aiyedatiwa, the campaign group, and the APC leadership in Ondo State on the tragic loss.
Similarly, the State Director-General of the LACO-FSIC, who also serves as the state Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, denounced the incident as terrible and unnecessary, expressing sympathy for the family, friends, and associates of the late Excel.
The coming days promise a lot of intrigues in the Ondo State political circle with the former Governor, Segun Mimiko, set to play a big part.
Biztellers reports that delegates of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) on Wednesday, in Akure, chose Abass Mimiko as its candidate for the November 16 governorship election in the state.
It was gathered that Abass is Segun’s younger sibling.
He was reported to have been chosen through affirmation in the party’s primary election at its Secretariat.
On emergence, Mimiko assured that if elected governor of the state, his priorities would be education, health, economy, and security.
On if his older sibling would be supporting his ambition, with both of them being in different political parties, Abbas revealed that the former governor would be rooting for him to become Ondo’s next governor.
According to him, “My brother is happy that I am coming out because he knows I would build on his achievements.”
In a show of solidarity, the 37 chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) expressed support for the party’s national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, despite reports of his suspension by his ward in Dawakin-Tofa local government area of Kano state.
The chairmen representing 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) conveyed their vote of confidence during a visit to Ganduje at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday.
Acting chairman of the APC state Chairmen Forum and Lagos State chairman of the party, Cornelius Ojelabi, stated that those behind the purported suspension were not recognized by the party.
He said, “We are here to let you know that we are solidly behind you. The purported suspension is not from members of the party but coming from people that want to derail the party.
“We’re here to show our solidarity and sincere commitment to appreciate what members of the National Working Committee have been doing in standing by you by giving you a total support.
“We feel it’s important that the act of that solidarity should not be limited to members of the NWC alone.”
In his retort, Ganduje pointed fingers at Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, accusing him of orchestrating the purported suspension by impostors.
He derided the move as nothing more than a theatrical spectacle, likening it to scenes one might expect on Africa Magic’s Nollywood channel.
He said, “We were so astonished when we heard the news but we were not surprised when we discovered that the great threat that APC overwhelmingly poses to other parties is real and Kano State is not an exception.
“The government in Kano State is behind this drama. Even the drama is one kind of drama that is called Africa Magic. This is Africa Magic and it is not leading democracy anywhere.
“It is a negative innovation where members who belong to a different political party, not even our members, let alone being elected executive members of either the ward or to the highest level at the state.
He added “Our party cannot be distracted, we assure you. Our attention cannot be diverted. We are focused. We know where we are heading to. We know our objectives and we know to achieve our objectives.”
At the same time, the Ganduje-led National Working Committee of the APC has officially received the report of the party’s Ondo Governorship Committee, headed by Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
In a formal handover ceremony, Ganduje commended Governor Ododo for his exemplary leadership and acknowledged the committee’s diligent work.
He expressed pride in the governor’s successful execution of the party’s first national assignment under his stewardship.
Ganduje said “This is your first assignment and we are happy that you did well. I was in our Situation Room watching you live while you were declaring the results and I am proud of the way you handled it.”
In his earlier remarks, Governor Ododo expressed gratitude to the APC national leadership for entrusting him and his committee members with such a crucial national assignment.
He highlighted that the committee’s report meticulously documented all events surrounding the primary election, offering comprehensive recommendations to address the aftermath.
Governor Ododo emphasized the importance of these recommendations in fostering party unity and preparing the APC for success in the upcoming November governorship election in Ondo State.
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