Allow Us To Choose, Disability Appointees In Government

By Aluko Tolulope

One of the greatest legacies and a major dividend of democracy that characterised governor Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde’s administration was the executive approval that persons with disabilities in Oyo State should be appointed as special assistants and Supervisory Councilors on disability in all the thirty-three(33) local government areas in Oyo State.The executive order came into effect in 2021 after the local government election.

The magmanity of the governor on the executive order was heartily welcomed and applauded by we persons with disabilities in Oyo State. Our dear governor did not only sign the executive order he went further to see to the full implementation of the directive. We need to state that the outgoing chairmen in all the thirty-three (33) local government indeed cooperated with his Excellency in ensuring that each local government has either a special assistant or a Supervisory councilor who is a disabled person.It is also imperative to state clearly that all the entitlement and benefits attached to the position was equally paid to disabled beneficiaries. The beneficiaries today are car owners and landlords, and to say the least, their economic developments are noticeable in society .
We shall forever remain grateful to our compassionate and loving governor engineer Oluseyi Makinde for the exceptional treatment that we persons with disabilities are receiving from him. We have never had it so good before now.

The general public should, however, know that the greatest challenge that we persons with disabilities in Oyo State are facing on this golden gift from his Excellency is undue interference of some mean politicians who saw this as an opportunity for self bargaining and barter. Politicians would be handpicking professional blind beggers to be appointed as SA’s and Supervisory Councillors. Some politicians present abled bodied men and women to fill the post and abandoned persons with disabilities.

In 2021, these aboved mentioned irregularities were some of the actions some politicians were involved in, and this led to shouts and protests by the disability community, drawing the attention of the governor to this ungodly act and subsequently the governor directed that Barrister Ayodele Adekanmbi should take over the process, do the needful and report back accordingly. it was then that we persons with disabilities had a sigh of relief .

The association of technology inclined visually impaired persons of Nigeria and other persons with disabilities wishes the governor,the Oyo State Executive Council,Oyo State Elders Council,Oyo state Advisory Council and Oyo State House of Assembly successful local government election scheduled to hold on 27th April 2024.We want to assure the governor and his team that we persons with disabilities in Oyo State will equally participate and contribute our quota to the success of the election.

It will be no more news that shortly after the chairmanship election into the local government, the appointment of Special Assistants and Supervisory Councillors on disability matters will take place . The implication is that another set of persons with disabilities will be appointed into these positions. We want to reiterate that we persons with disabilities in Oyo State are fully prepared and determined to jealously guard this golden gift from his Excellency, and we will vehemently oppose and politely humiliate any politician of mean heart who may want to interfere with the appointment process as was done in 2021.

We are appealing to the politicians to give us breathing space and stay aloof. The Oyo State Agency for persons with disabilities whose mandate is to see to the welfare of persons with disabilities in Oyo State should be allowed to take full control of the selection process,in that, qualified persons with disabilities will be appointed has it was done in 2021.

The association of technology inclined visually impaired persons of Nigeria wants to remind the general public that in 2020,the peoples governor,engineer Oluseyi Makinde gave approval for one hundred and fifty disabled persons to be employed as teachers in Oyo State. Some mean politicians decided to move into the slot there by denying qualified disabled persons of enjoying this rare privilege. The attention of the governor was drawn to this, and he immediately intervened. Again, we were rescued from these politicians. We will not allow any undue interference by these politicians on the appointment of Special Assistants and Supervisory Councillors into the thirty-three(33) local government areas of Oyo State.Hence, we are appealing to the Executive Governor,Deputy governor,Speaker Oyo State House of Assembly,Commissioner for local government,Oyo state elders Council,Oyo State Advisory Council and other stakeholders to talk to the politicians and allow our Agency under the able leadership of Barrister Ayodele Adekanmbi to engage in the selection process for our trust in the Agency is unwavering.

Aluko Tolulope is President, Association of Technology inclined visually impaired persons of Nigeria.