… Vows mobilisation in 18 councils

… Hails Tinubu’s ‘inclusive’ policies

Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Ondo State have vowed to mobilise for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The endorsement came during a declaration programme organised under the auspices of the Asiwaju Mandate Group (AMG), which brought together members of various disability groups across the 18 local council areas of the state.

The event attracted a diverse cross-section of the disability community, including visually impaired persons, hearing impaired individuals, physically challenged persons, persons with albinism, and other affiliates of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD).

The Chairman of the Ondo State Agency for the Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, Mrs Arise Folashade, spoke on the community’s appreciation for what she described as the President’s demonstrated commitment to disability inclusion.

“The disability community in Ondo State, comprising the visually impaired, hearing impaired, physically challenged persons, persons with albinism and other disability groups under the umbrella of JONAPWD, had resolved to support the president’s re-election,” she stated.

Folashade hailed Tinubu for what she described as his “promotion of inclusiveness” and for giving persons with disabilities “a sense of belonging in governance”, pointing to the appointment of a special adviser on disability matters and the strengthening of disability representation at the national level through the Disability Commission.

“We, persons with disabilities in Ondo State across the 18 local government areas, are here to declare our support for our president and his second-term bid.

“We also request empowerment for persons with disabilities. The essence of this programme is to encourage special persons and give them a sense of belonging. We want them to know that they are important stakeholders in the nation’s development and in the electoral process,” Folashade added.

An APC leader, Babatunde Gbalajobi, argued that persons with disabilities remained inadequately represented in the political space, despite ongoing efforts at inclusion, and called for a fundamental shift in how disability issues are approached.

“Being physically challenged is a matter of rights. It should not be viewed as something that requires pity or charity,” he asserted.

He further urged the government to ensure more comprehensive representation of persons with disabilities across all sectors, including government administration and non-governmental organisations.

“Persons with disabilities are not adequately represented. Government can do more to ensure that persons with disabilities are fully represented in government, administration and even non-governmental sectors,” Babatunde said.

On his part, the coordinator of the Asiwaju Mandate Group, Olumuyiwa Asagunla, explained that the disability community had approached his organisation with a request to organise the declaration programme, having been encouraged by the president’s appointment of a special adviser on disability matters.

According to Asagunla, the disability groups expressed readiness to mobilise support for Tinubu across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State ahead of the next election.

“They told us that a president who has done so much for persons with disabilities deserves appreciation. They said they would mobilise their members across the state and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid. Today’s gathering is a demonstration of that commitment,” he said.