Lagos State
Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Oluranti Adebule, monday played host to Mrs. Ruth
Uche and her three sets of twins, who were abandoned by her husband, Mr.
Benjamin Uche.
The visit by Mrs.
Uche to the deputy governor’s office was a follow-up to the directive of the
governor of the state, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, who directed that the woman and
her children be rehabilitated and assisted by all relevant government agencies
to ensure they are in good condition.
Speaking while
hosting the woman at her Alausa office, the deputy governor sympathised with
her over the traumatic experience she has had to endure in trying to raise the
six children following the disappearance of her husband, assuring her that the
government of Lagos State was ready to come to her aid and ensure the
well-being of her children.
“As a woman and a
mother, I can only imagine what you have gone through managing six children, it
must have been energy sapping and depressing. But I salute your courage and I
want to assure you that this government will not abandon you, we will stand by
you and ensure that you are assisted to get back to a normal life,” Adebule
said.
She thanked the
woman for coming forward to seek help rather than abandon the children, which
some other people would have done, noting that if she dumped the children by
the road side, it would still have been the lot of government to take custody
of the children and ensure their well-being.
The deputy
governor said Mrs. Uche’s presence and determination to raise her children
further encouraged the government to offer the necessary assistance.
She added that
Ambode had approved the release of some amount of money, which the deputy
governor stated would be paid into an account and part of it would be used to
attend to some of the immediate needs of the children and their mother, adding
that officials from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation had
been directed to provide the necessary logistics support to her.
Adebule however
advised the runaway husband to come forward and take up the responsibility of
caring for his family, admonishing him to be appreciative of the divine
blessings that had come his way through the children.
Mrs. Uche thanked
the state government for assisting and supporting her, noting that the love shown
to her and her children could only have come from a government that truly cares
about the well being of its people.
The highlight of
the visit was the presentation of the token from the government to Mrs. Uche by
the deputy governor.
-Thisday