The leading governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Osun State in the 2026 Osun off-cycle election, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), said governance is a serious business and not a dancing competition.
Oyebamiji, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), stated this at the anniversary of Joint National Association of Persons With Disabilities (JONAPWD) Ile-Ife chapter held at Oba Okunade Sijuwade Memorial City Hall, Enuwa, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
The NIWA boss, who was represented at the unique event by Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye, immediate past Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, in his words said God does not make a mistake as whatever He created is perfect.
"If Comrade Kehinde Otitoju is not disabled, he may not be active, but his disability brought out his activeness and he is now known countrywide.
"By His Grace, once Oyebamiji assumes the mantle of leadership next year, JONAPWD has a place in history as they would be fixed, as disability does not affect their ability to perform optimally." Oyebamiji donated the sum of two million naira to the association.
Speaking at the event, His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, Ooni of Ife, said he is highly elated to rejoice with JONAPWD on this year's anniversary and wishes them a fruitful outing.
The highly respected monarch was represented at the event by Mr. Ade Olaoluwa.
He said Ooni does not joke with issues relating to JONAPWD as he treats them with dispatch.
Speaking at the event, Most Senior Apostle Prophet Elijah Fagbule of Sacred Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Oke-Atan, Ile-Ife, urged JONAPWD members to always encourage themselves as they are their first encouragers before anybody will encourage them.
The cleric, represented by Mr. Paul Olanrewaju, said at all times, they should always know that what is not known to man is clearly known by their maker, which is God.
He implored that they should continue to have a strong and abiding faith in God.
In his short homily, Rev. Canon Leye Onitiju of Obawole's Chapel, Anglican Communion, Bishop's Court, Parakin, Ile-Ife, said God has never forgotten people with disabilities as they are doing wonders in all spheres of life.
"We have medical doctors, academia - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) holders, barristers, engineers, and a whole lot of professions amongst the disabled.
"Yours is a bit better because many become disabled in their 70s, which eventually is hard for them to cope at that age because they are not used to it."
He, however, offered them five scholarships at the GLEDIC College of Health Science and Technology for any of their programmes.
In his speech at the event, Mr. Bolu Elumade, Leader of JONAPWD, said the purpose of this event was to make themselves happy by way of interactions and to empower themselves through whatever they realized from donors so they can be more self-reliant.
In their separate words, Mr. Isiaka Obafemi, Chairman, Ife Central Local Government; Mr. Kayode Alatunse, Chairman, Ife East Local Government; and Mr. Adeyemi Oyedeji, Chairman, Ife East Area Office, all of JONAPWD, alluded that they are grateful to God for the gift of life.
"Though, at times as humans, we think how are we like this, but from nowhere, praises will just fill our mouths."
In his words at the anniversary occasion, the grassroots politician of Ife extraction, Hon. Olusegun Fanibe (Oko-Arugbo), said, "When they brought the letter inviting the Osun leading governorship aspirant, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), to me, asking will he honour their invitation, I assured them that my principal is a listening man and will honour their request. Here we are, he honoured the invitation by sending a high-profile politician who represented him and as well did the needful."
Mr. Segun Adeniyi, one of the invited guests, alluded that he appreciates the leadership of this association by having a forum where they meet.
"Honestly, I'm not aware of this, but with what I'm seeing here, it speaks volumes, and I'll be paying school fees of five disabled students in public secondary schools."
Stephen Idowu, Chairman, JONAPWD, Osun State, said, "At all times, we should be grateful to God for the gift of life.
"Though we are disabled, our mental faculty is sound. If you get to psychiatry now, you'll see people better than us in looks, but they have issues which affect their reasoning, but here we are, bubbling."
Delivering his opening speech, Comrade Kehinde Otitoju, Leader of the association, appreciated all the invited guests who honoured them with their presence and those who have been supporting them all along.
He alluded that it's only a few able-bodied people who can use the cup a disabled person used to drink, while a disabled person will use the cup an able-bodied person uses without questioning.
"The moment you see an able-bodied person clinging to a disabled person, you should know that they've seen qualities in such a person which they want to benefit from, as the thought of able-bodied towards disabled is not always for good."
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