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About two weeks ago, we saw a video online about a mother of two who was allegedly abandoned by her husband due to her blue eyes. Her two children have similar blue eyes. In the video, she claims her husband abandoned her because of her blue eyes and because her two children have similar eyes. The story caught my attention as a paediatrician and a mother.

My first reaction was to organise a meeting with husband and wife’s family to educate them. However, I had my doubts about the story. This was mainly due to the fact that Risikat had the said eyes from birth and husband married her with the same. And went ahead to have three children. I started to wonder about the initial story more and more as the husband, Abdulwasiu, was interviewed and he told his own side of the story.

Now, what followed was what I didn’t prepare for. The family were turned into stars with all kinds and shades of people trooping to the poor neighbourhood where she lives with her parents. Politics also came in and we have heard all types of promises from the family and social media.
What’s the real story?

The young family of Abdulwasiu and Risikat suffered from financial shocks that arose from the admission of the twins they had close to two years ago. That was her second birth and the babies were born prematurely. They ended up at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital neonatal intensive care unit. The family spent all they had and sold practically all they had. Thereafter, one of the twins died. Risikat had difficulties coping with no food and other necessities. She moved back to her parents’ house. Yes, hubby isn’t a saint and his family didn’t do their best for the young couple. However, it was the lack of sustainability that led to the crisis.
From the stories told, I am sure this is obvious.

Both Risikat and her husband are not educated. Risikat (dropped out of doing her WASSCE because of lack of money) had a small patent medicine shop which crumbled during the said admission of the twins. The husband is a vulcaniser and owns a bike. Do you see the family dynamics? There are millions of young families like this in Nigeria without social security. No health insurance and no support for the children too.

I am therefore surprised at the media hype and story line without anyone stopping to ask questions. I suspected some people wanted to gain from the story and exploitation of the naive lady had started in earnest with someone appointing herself as her manager and another, her lawyer. She has suddenly become a big company that needs to be managed. And percentages are already being discussed. Sad!
What the family needs is a means of livelihood. Get a tricycle (Marwa) for the husband and get a patent medicine shop going for the wife. Support them with a little cash and foodstuff. If assisting them with accommodation is on the table, do so in an area they can sustain in the next two or three years.

Some of the most absurd things I have heard in the saga is that the children will be placed in a highbrow school where hundreds of thousands will be spent. By who and for what purpose? Even I won’t send my grandchildren to such schools! Help the family put the children in a school they can go on paying themselves in the next two years. Don’t create a false status in the family and throw them into disarray.
Assist them realistically and in a way that is sustainable. Don’t widen the rift in the family by pulling the lady further from her husband. Talks about relocation to Lagos to model smack of attempts to explore, expose, use and gain from the lady. At the end, she is dumped!

Can you locate the lady and her children? Ordinary people. Let them go on with a better life in peace. Instead of running to each case that’s hyped in the media, my prayer is that government becomes more responsible towards providing basic education, universal health coverage, good housing, potable water and social safety nets for its citizens. This is not about Kwara State alone but Nigeria as a nation. Our citizens deserve better deals.

Prof Aisha Ahmed Gobir is a Paediatric Consultant at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.

Fortunes have come the way of Oreofeoluwa Lawal-Babalola, a young boy who went viral in a recent video begging his mother to Calm Down and rest a little, when mother tried to whip him.

This is just as an Abuja-based real estate outfit, T Pumpy Concept Limited has signed the young boy as one of its brand ambassadors, NIGERIA DEFENDER reports.

The 4-year-old kid became a social media sensation after a video of him trying to convince the mum from punishing him in a dramatic way him went viral online.

Oreofeoluwa signed a two-year contract with the real estate company on Saturday at its corporate headquarters in Abuja.

Speaking shortly before the contract was signed, the MD/CEO of T Pumpy Concept Limited, Mr. Akintayo Adaralegbe, said he was moved by the boy’s courage and boldness during the conversation with his mum in the viral video.

He described his action as smart, intelligent and resilient.

“While many people only watched and laughed over the 3-minute-18-second footage I learnt a lot from it.

“He’s courageous, bold and innovative. It reminds us that as a people, no matter the situation, we should learn to CALM DOWN!

“We decided to bring him on board because of his courage, tenacity and power to negotiate, which are some of the things what T Pumpy stands for.

“On behalf of the staff and management of T Pumpy Concept Limited, I welcome Master Oreofeoluwa to this family.”

Speaking shortly after signing the contract on behalf of the young man, his mother, Mrs. Lawal-Babalola, thanked T Pumpy for reaching out to the son.

She promised to do everything within her power to make sure the young man attains his dreams.

When asked to comment on his new endorsement, a visibly-elated Oreofeoluwa said “before you buy any land in Abuja, calm down and come to T Pumpy Estate, the developer that cares and your future is assured.”

T Pumpy also signed Ibadan-based comedy merchant, Ayo Ajewole, famously known as Woli Agba and Kannywood actress, Nafisa Abdullahi as its brand ambassadors.

Meanwhile, T Pumpy also parades other top entertainers such as Nollywood actors, Femi Adebayo, Tayo Odueke AKA Sikira Sindodo, singer Sule Alao Malaika, Keji and Osundare Damilare also known as Asiri comedy.

The T-Pumpy Concept team has decades of providing industry-acclaimed off-site home designs and constructions with housing estates spread across Lugbe, Guzape, Karasana, kyami, Life Camp, Jabi, Wawa and Kuje.

Whether you’re interested in a manufactured home or an innovative modular design, the T-Pumpy Concept team continues to deliver what home buyers are looking for in their new homes along with the quality construction they expect and deserve.