Persons Living With Disability In Ondo Ask Governor Aiyedatiwa To Remove Agency Head

By Ayodele Oni

Persons with disability who are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state have accused their chairman of neglecting them, while allegedly diverting their entitlements.

But the State Chairperson of the Agency for People with disability, Folasade Arise has defended herself and insisted her office has not received anything from the State Government this year.

The disabled persons under

Ondo State All Progressives Congress Elders Forum of persons with disability demanded the removal of the chairperson as a pre condition for voting for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa during November poll.

The Disabled APC Elders Forum spoke during their protest to the Alagbaka governor’s office to press for  the sack of Princess Folashade Arise as Chairperson of People Living with Disabilities Agency.

They asked Governor Aiyedatiwa to sack her if he wanted them to vote during the election.

The placard-carrying protesters accused Princess Arise of manipulation, deceit and neglect of responsibilities.

Chairman of the Disabled APC Elders Forum, Micheal Ben, said Arise has caused harm and suffering to the people she was supposed to serve.

Ben explained that the past seven years of Arise in the agency has been suffocating for them.

He stated that there has been an alleged diversion of funds and resources meant for the benefit of people living with disabilities.

According to him, ” We have noticed deceitful tactics to silence and intimidate critics and whistleblowers as well as neglect of duties, leading to a lack of progress and improvement in the lives of people living with disabilities.

“All the things government released to us were not given to us. We urge the Governor to take immediate action to address this situation and rescue the agency from the current leadership.

“He should appoint a new leader who is committed to serving the needs of people living with disabilities and take steps to restore the agency’s purpose and integrity.

“We will mobilize not to vote if she is not removed.”

Princess Arise while defending the allegations said the fund being referred to by the Elder’s Forum was not approved.

She explained that the agency has not received any funding since the beginning of the year.

“I have not done any programme since the beginning of this year. In our programme, I carried everybody along including the Albinos. There was no money that was embezzled or misused.”