Yusuf Oketola
A civil society group, the Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) has urged the Nation Orientation Agency (NOA), to priotise the inclusiveness of Persons with Disabilities in the electoral process, ahead of the July 16, gubernatorial election in the State of Osun.
The Executive Director of the group, Grace Jerry, made the appeal on Wednesday in Osogbo during an Advocacy visit to NOA state headquarters, Abere, state of Osun.
According to Jerry, there is need for NOA to encourage Persons with Disabilities on the need to go out and exercise their franchise without fear of being intimidated and attacked.
She also urged the agency to in its messages, remind the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the need to make available, all necessary materials needed to aid PWDs during election.
She said: “As an agency tasked with communicating government policy, staying abreast of public opinion, and promoting patriotism, national unity, and the development of Nigerian society, we are here today to see how we can collaborate with the National Orientation Agency. Osun election is in few weeks time and in the area of information, it is important that we begin to come up with targeted messages, targeting the community of people with disabilities.
“It is important that they come out and exercise their franchise. It is important that we all together, promote disability issues from the human right approach and no longer the maternity approach.
“So, together with the NOA, we want to seek collaboration on how we can come up with messages, jingles that will make persons with disability to come out en masse to get their voter card and also vote on the election day. We will also ask that in your messages, remind INEC not to forget its deployment plans as regard persons with disabilities. We wouldn’t mind even developing the messages of the jingles with you so that it is targeted towards the community.
“For those who may not be able to listen to the radio or have the luxury of watching the television, is it possible to adopt the ‘Town Crier’ method so that this information can get as far as the rural areas”.
In his response, the state Director of NOA, Abiodun Oluropo, assured the group of the agency’s support towards their request.
He said: “It is nice that we are having this interface because everything is geared towards having progress and advancement in the electoral process. I have received your message very well and we understand your needs, and I want to assure you that in the build-up to the forthcoming governorship election in the state, we will impress it upon INEC and other stakeholders of the need to carry PWD’s along. Most especially, the NYSC and the Security agencies.
“Concerning the production of jingle’s, as soon as we have the necessary logistics in place, we will do our level best to help out as you have requested”. He concluded.
