The
only eyes that a blind man living in a community in Ebonyi state, has
all his life, which is his lovely wife, has been plucked away by the
cold hands of death after she delivered of a set of male twins.
For Benjamin Emeh, a blind man and native of Amata-Amoha community
in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, life can be both
kind and cruel. This is what he has come to realise, following the death
of his wife after she gave birth to male twins.
in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, life can be both
kind and cruel. This is what he has come to realise, following the death
of his wife after she gave birth to male twins.
The death of Ngozi Emeh not long ago, struck Emeh like a
thunderbolt for many obvious reasons, the first being that he is a blind
man unable to take care of his family. Fending for the rest of the
family was what the late Ngozi was doing before her untimely death.
thunderbolt for many obvious reasons, the first being that he is a blind
man unable to take care of his family. Fending for the rest of the
family was what the late Ngozi was doing before her untimely death.
Although the Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, upon learning
about Emeh’s plight, announced a monthly stipend of N20, 000 for him,
the blind widower still needs help to raise his twins.
about Emeh’s plight, announced a monthly stipend of N20, 000 for him,
the blind widower still needs help to raise his twins.
He recalled that his late wife had successfully given birth to male
twins but died shortly after thereby plunging him and the children into
crisis.
twins but died shortly after thereby plunging him and the children into
crisis.
He lamented that the death of his wife was the biggest blow he ever had in life despite the fact that he was also blind.
“Imagine what it means to be a single parent and a
visually-impaired person; it is very challenging. My wife was everything
to me; she was a soul mate, sister, friend, mother, helper and
provider. She was a hardworking woman. She supported me immensely in
taking care of our children; she would always provide whenever I didn’t
have and she was a workaholic.
visually-impaired person; it is very challenging. My wife was everything
to me; she was a soul mate, sister, friend, mother, helper and
provider. She was a hardworking woman. She supported me immensely in
taking care of our children; she would always provide whenever I didn’t
have and she was a workaholic.
“I still find it difficult to believe she is dead because she
was part of me. I was lucky to have had her as a wife but it is
unfortunate that death took her away from me. I am now a distraught
single parent, bearing many responsibilities. The death that killed her
should have not come at this time when we are struggling to raise our
God-given children.”
was part of me. I was lucky to have had her as a wife but it is
unfortunate that death took her away from me. I am now a distraught
single parent, bearing many responsibilities. The death that killed her
should have not come at this time when we are struggling to raise our
God-given children.”
Even when Emeh is blind, life has become harsher for him and his
entire household mostly the newly-born babies. Now, it has dawned on him
that life could be a lot more challenging and unfriendly. He needs
help.
entire household mostly the newly-born babies. Now, it has dawned on him
that life could be a lot more challenging and unfriendly. He needs
help.
“After her death, I was in critical condition; I needed help to
bury her and to carter for the twins and other children, but none came.
bury her and to carter for the twins and other children, but none came.
“People ran away from me; no one asked me how I was doing. I
ran to some top government officials in the state for help but they
could not assist me. I then wrote a letter to Governor Dave Umahi and
he immediately placed me on N20,000 monthly stipend after seeing my
case, which he described as pathetic.
ran to some top government officials in the state for help but they
could not assist me. I then wrote a letter to Governor Dave Umahi and
he immediately placed me on N20,000 monthly stipend after seeing my
case, which he described as pathetic.
“The governor also directed his Senior Special Adviser on
Religion and Welfare, Rev. Fr. Abraham Nwali, to make sure I received
the stipend regularly and to ensure that my suffering was ameliorated.
The N20, 000 monthly stipends is for the upkeep of the twins. The twins
are at Motherless Babies Home, Abakaliki, where they are being taken
care of. They are both males. Each time I visit them, I always feel
happy and grateful to God for keeping them alive despite the death of
their mother. I also feel happy and grateful to the people taking care
of them because it is not easy to take care of orphans, especially those
at very tender age.”
Religion and Welfare, Rev. Fr. Abraham Nwali, to make sure I received
the stipend regularly and to ensure that my suffering was ameliorated.
The N20, 000 monthly stipends is for the upkeep of the twins. The twins
are at Motherless Babies Home, Abakaliki, where they are being taken
care of. They are both males. Each time I visit them, I always feel
happy and grateful to God for keeping them alive despite the death of
their mother. I also feel happy and grateful to the people taking care
of them because it is not easy to take care of orphans, especially those
at very tender age.”
He thanked Governor Umahi for his timely intervention but
maintained that even with the N20,000, he still found it very difficult
to survive, as he was unable to pay for his children’s school fees and
upkeep.
maintained that even with the N20,000, he still found it very difficult
to survive, as he was unable to pay for his children’s school fees and
upkeep.
Rev. Fr. Nwali said the stipend would run until the end of Governor
Umahi’s administration, adding that the government was also taking
care of triplets whose mothers also died after child delivery.
Umahi’s administration, adding that the government was also taking
care of triplets whose mothers also died after child delivery.
‘’We also have another person, who had triplets and is
physically challenged person. The governor pays the triplets N300,000;
he is taking care of them.
physically challenged person. The governor pays the triplets N300,000;
he is taking care of them.
“We are also taking care of a family with three cripples. We
also take care of another family whose head is blind; the wife is also
blind. So, God is watching us and wants us to go and make a change,” he said.
also take care of another family whose head is blind; the wife is also
blind. So, God is watching us and wants us to go and make a change,” he said.