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
