The Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has assured that his administration will not derail from its policy of inclusivity and purposeful governance as a responsible and responsive government, as it provides equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be marginalised and ostracized
Penpushing reports that Abiodun emphaised this in his speech as Special Guest of Honour at the 5th anniversary lecture of Penpushing Media held on July 25, 2023 at Marquee events centre, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.
‘Our administration, since the inception of our first term in office, has recognised the inalienable rights of the people to be given a sense of belonging in policy formulation and implementation and the necessity of the provision of an enabling environment for growth, irrespective of your physical and mental condition’, he said
Penpushing further reports that Abiodun pointed out that in line with the theme of the event, ’Burden of Inclusivity and Nigeria’s Democracy’, it is practically an unavoidable burden of responsibility for every government in a democratic system to treat everyone equally through masses-oriented policies that are geared towards ensuring the greatest happiness to the greatest number of people; that is, inclusion.
‘In clear terms, if the tenets and principles of democracy are centred around the people as their integral focus, and in the way the 16th American President, Abraham Lincoln, pronounced it on Thursday, November 19, 1863, as ‘The Government of The People by the People and for the People’, everybody is important’, he stated.
‘Interpreting Lincoln’s conception of the democratic system, the people, according to him, irrespective of their status and state of mind, are the primary purpose of democracy, so that definition is historically a Statement of Assurance’, Abiodun said.
‘By this thinking and practise, democracy should be seen as a haven of hope and protection by all and always; after all, the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in its Chapter 2, Section 14, sub-section 2B, unequivocally stipulates that the welfare and security of the people are the primary objectives of the government’, he added.
‘It is, however, unfortunate that our society over time has not been able to discover and be convinced about the peculiarities of strength and potential in people living with disabilities, as they were being treated with disdain and ignorantly underrated at the peril of our growth and development’, he said.
‘The primitive public perception of people living with disabilities as liabilities and of no value or significance should be corrected by a democratic ethos that puts every individual first, notwithstanding who and what he is’.
‘This correction of erroneous opinion about people living with disability in every democracy can only be achieved through inclusive government policies that prioritise every interest and aspiration, with special attention to lifting the weak and giving hope to the downtrodden’.
‘Obviously, there is hidden ability in everyone living with disability; they just need a little help to bring out that ability in them and equally contribute, very importantly, to nation-building. It is on the basis of this reality and understanding that we built our philosophy of action in Ogun State, which is “Building Our Future Together”, the philosophy we strictly follow in tandem with our ISEYA mantra as a compass of direction’, Abiodun stressed.
Penpushing also reports that the Governor his administration has successfully, to the admiration of the people of the state, put an end to oppression, deception, and arrogance in power and encouraged the massive participation of teeming citizenry in decision-making.
‘The resolute stance of our people on February 25 and March 18 this year against political merchants who were desperate to grab power through the back doors clearly underscores this. We, therefore, promise to continue in that direction of inclusive and purposeful governance as a responsible and responsive government’, he said.
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