Kwara state Special Sports Athletes also known as para-athletes staged a peaceful protest against unpaid allowances and unemployment in the state.

The protesters therefore urged Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to provide them with job opportunities to uplift their welfare and attract more glory to the state.

Led by Vice Chairman, North Central and representative of the Nigeria Wheelchair Basketball Federation, Felix Olatunbosun Oyadinrin, the athletes carried their peaceful protest to the seat of power in Ilorin yesterday.

The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions to express their feelings, saying that all efforts to meet with the state governor had not been successful.

They hailed Governor Abdulrazaq on sports development in the state.

“We will like to show our appreciation to the present administration led by his Excellency, Governor Abdulrazaq, for the support in promoting sport in the state,” they added.

They claimed several attempts to have audience with the governor concerning their plight in the last three years yielded no fruits.

One of the letters ‘titled request to meet with the governor’ reads: “Over the years, the special sport athletes have been representing the state and winning laurels; both at International and National competitions. We plead to His Excellency to grant us this request so as to uplift the welfare of the special sport athletes positively and put smile on our faces.

“I hope we shall meet your mercy and that our request will be given due and favourable consideration.”

The letter continued: “We have boosted the standing of the State among its peers in sporting levels. On numerous occasions we were promised; promising and not fulfilling. Meanwhile, many of the athletes had given nothing but exceptional services to the state in terms of sport and nothing to show for it, in our lives and that of our family.

“On many occasions, we have organized seminars for people living with disabilities and to encourage them. It is a shame that all this effort is wasted because there is no support from the state government.”