By joshua 
Kogi Disability Community rejoices appointment of JONAPWD Chairman As Political Aid to Governor
By Ishaq Dan-Imam, Lokoja
After years of political agitation for broader political representation in governance, the disability community in Kogi State have cause to roll out the drum to celebrate another political recognition of the electoral value of Persons with disabilities in the state, with the appointment a famous disability rights activist in the state, Mr. Ibrahim Daniel Arome, as a senior political aid to kogi state governor, Usman Ahmed Ododo, in north central Nigeria.
The kogi state government in north central Nigeria says the appointment of Hon. Arome is in recognition of his political contribution to the ruling party and the state, as the state government urges the appointee to mobilize political support for the party and Governor Ododo administration. The chairman of Kogi State chapter of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) Mr. Ibrahim Daniel Arome was recently appointed a senior special assistant to governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State on grassroots mobilisation.
Arome, a famous disability rights activist in the state, had previously served the state under the administration of former governor Yahaya Bello in the state as the board chairman of the kogi state office for disability affairs, (KOSODA) as its pioneer board chairman.
This brings to five, the number of persons with disabilities (PWDs) appointed into political offices as SSAs by the current administration in the state, following years of political agitation by the ‘special citizens’ in the state, who clamour for greater political inclusion in the state.
Disability activists in the state described the appointment as a political milestone in the disability community in kogi state. Comrade Davies Oluwasegun Solomon says the appointment of Hon. Arome reflects a greater political inclusion in the state.
“This is another good time for the disability community (JONAPWD) to be recognized again as one of us, in the person of Comrade Daniel Ibrahim Arome, is graciously appointed as the SSA to the Governor from the Eastern Senatorial district. As a vibrant chairman of JONAPWD, Comrade Daniel Arome has undoubtedly proven his political worth for this position, being a loyal and faithful follower of governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and the entire APC family as a whole. This honour accorded the disability community and Arome in particular, portrays governor Ododo as a visionary leader, straightforward and committed to the growth and development of persons with disabilities in the state, noting that physically and mentally, the governor has empowered the disability community to play greater role in politics and electioneering.
“In view of this, we can not but acknowledge our political mentor and leader, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, the Immediate Past Governor of Kogi State, who officially signed into law the state disability, which led to the formation of the disability agency, known as Kogi State Office of Disability Affairs (KOSODA).
“Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, the Executive Governor of Kogi State, has identified the ability in our disability and deemed it fit to appoint one of us as the SSA but like Oliver Twist, we (Disability Community) are still looke up to you in the area of job opportunities for our qualified members. implemention of at least five (5) per cent employment slots for persons with Disabilities in the state, while we appeal for more jobs for the PWDS.
President of the association of applicants and workers with disabilities in Nigeria, Comrade Samuel Mark, expressed gratitude to the state government for giving a sense of belonging to persons with disabilities in the state but called on the Ododo administration and the Tinubu administration to create special legislative seat in the State Houses of Assembly and Local Government legislative councils through constitutional review and amendment to accommodate broader political interest of persons with disabilities in Nigeria to enhance their political agitation for economic, social and economic empowerment and development that will ease, “our quest for inclusive society, where our education, transportation and socio-economic rights are protected with constitutional Safeguards,” Mark said.