The Special Adviser (SA) to Osun Governor Ademola Adeleke on Special Needs, Kamil Aransi, has countered a recent publication in an Osun-based newspaper by the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), alleging neglect of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the state.
He described the claim as untrue, saying his office had always welcomed PWDs in the state.
A statement by Aransi also said his office did not receive any letter or text from a non-governmental organisation with the name, ‘One House Development Initiative’ claiming to have made many attempts to meet him.
The statement reads, “My attention has been drawn to a publication in a local newspaper based in Osogbo in which the Chairman, Secretary and Women coordinator of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) accused the deputy governor of Osun State, Prince Kola Adewusi and myself of neglecting Persons with Disabilities (PWD) in the state.
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“These allegations are untrue, misleading and plainly intended to blackmail my office.
“They represent the thoughts of those who want the government to fail and people with disabilities to suffer and they’re upset because we’ve decided to watch them feed on negativity, using the PWD group as a form of blackmail.
“Ordinarily, such assertions should be entirely ignored and disregarded, but I have genuine and unwavering respect for persons with disabilities.
“As a result, I decided to address these assertions in order to dispel the myths spread by individuals who use JONAPWD to advance their own objectives.
“Let me state this clearly, I have never received a letter from One House Development Initiative, either in person, by mail or a letter received in my office, or through text message to my phone number.
“The claim that the NGO has been trying to meet with me is incorrect and should be discarded by the public
“It is important to note that I have a long list of visionary and purposeful foundations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with which we collaborate to improve the lives of people with disabilities throughout the state.
“It defies logic that one NGO established on April 18th, 2024, about which I had no knowledge of its existence, would allege that Osun State government did not include them as stakeholders in decision-making.
“I have been working productively with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and I’m open to more NGOs interested in improving the lives of persons living with disabilities in the state.
“The claim that my talks with the leadership of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities produced no results is inaccurate, incorrect, and misleading.
“Each meeting I had with JONAPWDs and other associations was fruitful and detailed.
“I have recommended many decisions from our meetings for careful execution and I have also talked extensively about my thoughts and plans, which we both looked into holistically.
“Some of the accomplishments I have recorded in my seven months in office as Governor Ademola Adeleke’s Special Adviser on Special Needs, include facilitation of annual grant and subvention from Osun state government to the leadership of JONAPWD, statewide registration of persons with disabilities, contributions to the Passage of Disability Protection Bill and signing into law by the state Governor.
“Other are enrollment of all persons with disabilities in the state for Osun Health Insurance Scheme, OHIS, distribution of hundreds of bags of palliative rice, garri and maize for persons with disabilities, empowerment and inclusion of JONAPWD Farmers group in Ọṣun State Broiler Scheme and issuance of empowerment cheque of about N8.6m through the Ministry of Agriculture, among other interventions have been held so far for the PWDs.
“My team and I are not simply byproducts of history when it comes to leadership.
“We are fully committed to the development and advancement of those with disabilities in Osun State.”
