Mr Jake Epelle, the Chairman of The All Rights Foundation (TAF Africa), formerly known as the Albino Foundation, announced that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has produced the first governor with albinism in Nigeria. He praised the PDP for its inclusiveness policy, which gave Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) the opportunity to contest in elections. During a courtesy visit to the PDP’s leadership at their Abuja headquarters, Epelle called on President-elect Bola Tinubu to appoint PWDs to his cabinet and asked the All Progressives Congress (APC) to follow the PDP’s lead in inclusivity.
Epelle said that Umo Eno, Governor-elect of Akwa Ibom State, was the first albino governor in Nigeria and Africa. He also expressed gratitude to the PDP for selecting Alhaji Isah Liman Kantigi, a PWD, as the party’s governorship candidate in the March 18 elections in Niger State. Epelle regretted that the TAF had not known Kantigi was contesting and would have facilitated international recognition for him.
The Foundation was impressed by the PDP’s level of inclusivity given to women and PWDs, and urged other parties to follow suit. Ambassador Damagum, the Acting National Chairman, said the party has a deliberate policy of giving opportunities to PWDs in all its activities and is ready to do more.
The PDP challenged Tinubu to address corruption allegations publicly if he wants to fight corruption. The party stated that Tinubu should address the numerous allegations of corruption, including the Alpha Beta cases and the alleged improper acquisition and conversion of Lagos State Government landed properties worth billions of naira to himself, family, associates, and cronies.
