Bride Who Breastfed Her Child During Wedding Ceremony Has A Word For Mothers

This beautiful 22-year-old mother shared photo of her breastfeeding her son on her wedding day and wrote:

 

“I enjoy nursing my son and I made sure when I chose my wedding dress I would be able to nurse throughout my entire night,” she said.

 

“And I was able to. So I just want to share with women that no matter who doubts you or who turns their noses up to breastfeeding that it can be done. No one should feel embarrassed about feeding their child in the most natural way”

 

This may be a subtle reiteration of the statement made by Pope Francis some days ago about breastfeeding babies in public where the Pope told nursing mothers to Feel free to breastfeed “hungry” babies in church.

 

He went on to say; “The benefits of breastfeeding include providing optimal nutrition and an immune system boost for babies, while helping mothers bond with infants and speeding maternal weight loss after birth.”

 

In many countries around the world, however, women are still widely discouraged from breastfeeding, especially when they are in public.

 

Buhari Grieves Nnewi Gas Victims, Condoles Lamido, CBN Governor Over Mothers’ Demise

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed deep regret over the death of people in Anambra State, following an industrial gas explosion, which occurred a few hours before the Christmas celebration.

In a press statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, President Buhari said he was greatly shaken and shocked by such large-scale loss of human lives in a single industrial accident, which casts a gloom on the families of the victims “who were looking forward to a joyous Christmas celebration”.

The President extended his condolences to the families of the victims, the people and the government of Anambra State over what he described as “this unfortunate tragedy on Christmas eve”, adding that “my heart and prayers go out to these grieving families at this difficult and painful moment”.

Meanwhile, President Buhari has also condoled the Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Barkindo Mustapha, over the death of his mother, Hajiya Adda Gombeji, who passed away at the age of 87.

He has also placed a call to condole with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele who equally lost his own mother.

According to Shehu, the President personally made the phone calls to the Lamido of Adamawa and Emefiele to express his sympathy to the Monarch and the CBN Governor over the death of their mothers.

President Buhari described a mother as “an invaluable component of family life and the pillar and comforte of the children”.

He prayed to Allah to bless the souls of the deceased and grant the Lamido, Emefiele and other members of their families the fortitude to overcome the losses.

Credit: Thisday

Herbalist Abducts, Turns Minors to Sex Slaves

Two stolen kids that were rescued by the Cross River State Police Command on Thursday said they were made sex slaves by a herbalist, Emmanuel Akpan-Okon, who held them hostage for four years.

The kids, Esther Wisdom and Felicia Destiny, both aged 11, said in the four years that they were held hostage, the herbalist raped them almost every day.

Akpan-Okon (42) was arrested by the police following a tip-off that he specialised in the preparation of charms for armed robbers.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Henry Fadairo, said the rescued kids were abducted from their

parents separately from Onitsha, Anambra State, and Auchi, Edo State.

He said:

 “On November 16, 2015, we raided one Emmanuel Akpan’s home in Akamkpa, in the Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State, based on a tip-off. We gathered he was into the preparation of charms for armed robbers and treatment of criminals with bullet wounds.

During the raid, we saw two little girls in his house. One is Esther Wisdom and the other, Felicia Destiny. They are both 11 years. On enquiry, we found out that they were abducted four years ago. Wisdom was stolen from Onitsha while Destiny was stolen from Auchi.

We are making efforts to see how we can locate their parents. The victims claimed that he had been having regular sex with them.”

Destiny said she was in primary four when she was abducted, adding that the herbalist had raped her many times. She said:

 “I was in primary four when he took me away from my home. I remember that my mother lost her sister and when she was going for the burial, she told the man, who was a commercial motorcycle rider, to bring me to her village. That was how I found myself living with him. I used to tell him that I did not like sex, but he continued.”

Also, Wisdom said:

 “He has been having sex with us regularly. He gives us food to eat and promises that one day he will take us back to our mothers.”

Akpan-Okon, who is from Akwa Ibom State, said he abducted the girls because their mothers could not cater for them. He said:

 “While staying in the same compound with Wisdom’s mother at Onitsha, I observed that she had problems bringing up her nine children. This girl, Wisdom, was always with me when I was staying in their compound. So, when I wanted to leave Onitsha, I took her with me without telling her mother.

When I left Onitsha with her, I went to Auchi, and was riding a commercial motorcycle as a means of livelihood. Where I stayed in Auchi, Destiny was always coming to play with Esther. I also noticed that Destiny’s mother had many children. So, when I wanted to leave the town, I took her along.

I had sex with them and I know it is bad in the sight of God. I have a girl child who is with the mother. I will not be happy if she is treated this way.”

Abandoned Mother of Triple Twins Speaks: “I Will Take My Runaway Husband Back”

It was easy locating the storey building where Ruth Uche, the woman whose husband fled home when he learned she was expecting another set of twins after previously giving birth to two sets of twins, resides.

The dark-brown building at 32, Awori/Morica Street, Agege, Lagos stands out like a sore thumb, but locating the single room where she currently takes refuge with her three sets of twins is a bit more challenging.

Gaining access to the room situated at the back of the main building requires groping through a dark passage, made easier when you switch on your cellphone torch light. An unpleasant odour emanates
from the row of rooms built against the rear fence.

The room you are looking for is on the ground floor. It measures 8 feet by 8 feet and you almost mistake it for one of the toilets or bathrooms that flank it on the right and left. Directly  above is the bathroom for that floor, and water runs down Ruth’s room whenever  occupants of that floor are taking a bath.

When Vanguard finally located Ruth, she was deep in prayer. There was no electricity and it was pitch dark inside the room. It was also very hot.

Ruth immediately switches on her cellphone torch light and urged the reporter to take a seat on one of the two plastic chairs. As she prayed, she shed tears.  She prayed for all women and mothers.
Her voice shook with emotion as she prayed.

 “May your husband not die prematurely, and may he not run away or abandon you. May you not be left alone with the burden of responsibilities for the whole house, and may you not run mad with worry.”

When she was through, and after the initial pleasantries,the reporter stated his mission and asked how she came to be in her current predicament.

Ruth and Emeka were married in 2009. As a new couple in the village, they had a brilliant plan and part of it was to move out of the village in search of greener pasture. They both hail   from Abia state but different communities. When Emeka first came to Lagos, he put up with his brother when the latter got married, Emeka was forced to struggle to rent his own room. It was then he asked Ruth to come over in 2007.

  • History of twins

When they began having children shortly thereafter, Ruth and Emeka knew they had a history of twins in their families. Emeka is a twin, Ruth’s uncle is a father of twins twice in a row and there are many other twins in her husband’s family.

“When I first began to see my menses, it was irregular and my mother thought perhaps I had been raped or something and she punished me. Later, when she took me to the hospital, the doctor told her I was intact and that I had not been raped, but predicted that in future I would  have twins.”

  •  Husband’s nature

Even though he absconded, Ruth describes her husband as caring.

“Although his daily work is not helping matters because he spends more than he earns. He is a factory worker where they produce attachments and weave-on. So as a factory worker the little he is paid cannot solve the family problems.

“He helped me with the house work. During my pregnancy when one child rested on my chest and it hurt to the extent that I as unable to fetch water, he helped me out with that. And he is a good cook. He goes to the market to buy things and helps out with the cooking whenever I am too heavy during pregnancy.”

  • The  last pregnancy

When She got pregnant the third time, Ruth said she felt so bad because there was no one to assist her.

 “Even during the previous pregnancy, there was no assistance. So when I got pregnant I was sad and annoyed, I quickly approached my neighbor who is a mid-wife to help me flush it out, but she told me that the oath of office she took would not allow her do so. She prevailed on me not to abort. But along the line I was scared. The suffering was much, but thank to God today they are both alive.”

  • My ordeal

Narrating her ordeal, Ruth said that her inability to meet up with the upkeep of her children facilitated her decision to dash out the children to state government rather than watching them dying.

“I teach in one of the private schools nearby where I earn N10,000 per month, but in this same school I have four children and they are to pay 10,000 each for school fees but because I teach there, the  school slashed the fees to N5,000 per child which in total is N20,000.

So as they pay my salary with on hand, they collect it back with the other. I often beg them to give me N1,000 for my tithe which I do not fail to pay in the church where I worship because that one is most important to me.”

She recalled that it was a few months to her delivery that things got worse as she was unable to pay her children’s school fees and hunger become the order of the day.

“Last term, I was unable to pay their school fees. Iam even owing for this term because the money I had was used for my own health.”

In her narration, Ruth explained that her first set of twins, Goodness and Goodnews, both girls aged six, are currently Nursery 2. The second set, John and Joyce,  is four years old are in KG 2 while the third set of twins, named Daniel and Daniella, arrived last month.

Further, Ruth said , things were hard earlier, but after Emeka disappeared, she was really hit by the stress of coping alone.

 “Finding food to eat became very tough. There were occasions, I went from house to house in this neighborhood looking for assistance basically for something to eat, sometimes we would have rice but no pepper. The little money I realized from my place of work still goes back to the institution that I work for.”

  • Changed by stress

Ruth who expressed contentment about her children said despite the distress they still serve as vessels of encouragement for her.

“Their character at times  amazes me. In the morning, even when I am reluctant to pray, they  challenge me and ask, “Mummy, let us pray. So we would sing and they will pray, they will even name all the people in this compound. God, don’t let this or that person die. Don’t let my mummy and daddy die. When they are about to leave for school in the morning, they will bring out anointing oil I anoint them with sign of cross.”

Ruth admits that the challenges, have changed her.

“It is not easy at all. What you are seeing is not my true image. I have changed a lot. Two years ago when I traveled to the village, my father burst into tears when he saw me. He could not believe it was me his daughter.

“The stress on me is too much and taking care of these children is not easy. At times I will be feeding one, another will be crying and their senior ones will be fighting or dragging things. The neighbors knows me as a shouter, because there are some occasion I will be outside washing cloth while they will be inside causing problem, sometimes I will beat them up and later draw them closer to beg them.

  • Rude shock

Looking back, Ruth said she it was a rude shock when her husband absconded. Recounting the ordeal, she recalled that prior to the fateful day, his character changed. He became irritable and hostile, complaining and shouting at every one especially the children. Nothing pleased him again. She begged him, and thinking it was all over, the next day, he dressed up and left for work as usual but failed to return at the usual time.

Alarmed, she called him on the phone to find out what was the problem.

“When I called him, he picked the call and said enhen? Then he assured me that he was coming home, but when I did not see him for two days. I became worried, and started calling his friends Since then I didn’t hear from him again until after I went to the Governor’s office at Alausa in Ikeja.
When we came back from the Governor’s office, he called me and said he saw us in the media and asked why I went to that length? I said I had no other option, but then he again assured that he would soon come back home.

I told him the government is about to claim his children. I tried to speak fear into him to make him have a change of heart to return home but since that day he called, I have not heard from him again. If he is ready to come back, I will take him back.”

  • Government intervention

Ruth’s visit to the Office of the Lagos state Governor made headlines last week. When asked what she achieved from the effort, Ruth did not mince words.

 “The Lagos State government has promised to help me. I was told to go back home and put in writing whatever I want to be done for me take it back to the Governor’s office on Tuesday, July 7, 2015, with my children’s photographs.

“For the sake of God, first, I am pleading that  my children be given scholarships for their education because sourcing for their school fees is hard for me.  Second, this place I am staying is not good. It is surrounded by toilets and a bathroom is right above. Third, I pray the government helps me set up a business such as provision or food stuff that will not stress these children.

  • Neighbour’s position

One of her neighbours, Mr. Samuel Ameh, a senior tenant and friend of the family hinted to Vanguard on how Ruth and her family have been struggling to survive.

I was here before they packed in, I live upstairs. When they came in,  I didn’t know them but since my wife is from the  Eastern part of the country, they became friends. Also my wife is a midwife.

When they came, Ruth already had the first set of twins. But when she got pregnant again, this last one particularly, I noticed many things, particularly feeding. It was very hard. One day when she was coming to my house, she fell down mid-way. I thank God I was around, and I quickly rushed to her aid. I asked what the problem was and she said it was hunger. She had not eaten, so we ran around and help her get something to eat.

As a man, I foresee it that her husband would run away. The man did not prepare for twins, their house rent is due and feeding as well became difficult since there was nobody to render assistance.

I believe it is due to the burden that made him run away because he is a nice person and responsible as well. For the man that left, the only thing I see is hardship. If that man had money, he would be willing to take care of his family.

Ameh recalled that when Emeka ran away, his plan was that his wife who  is a midwife, would take Ruth’s  delivery, but she was on duty on the day Ruth put to bed.

“Those babies were only a few weeks old when they were being given milk formula. Even when the milk finished, there wasn’t money to buy more.”

It was Tough Training My Boys — VP Osinbajo’s Mother

Vice president Yemi Osinbajo’s mother, Mrs. Olubisi Osinbajo, 80, shares her challenges as a mother and how she successfully trained four boys in this interview with GBENGA ADENIJI of PUNCH.

  • What was your childhood like?

I was born in Ibadan, Oyo State on February 16, 1933. My father, Thomas Aiyegbayo, was a ranger from Osun State. He was one of the earliest rangers in the Western Region. My mother was from Ilaro, Ogun State. I attended Durbar School in Oyo for my primary education. Then, I went to Methodist School in Oyo and from there, I went to Sagamu Girls School, Remo, Ogun in 1946. We were taught by teachers who emphasised cleanliness, hard work and seriousness. It was later that I proceeded to Teacher’s Training College in Sagamu. After I completed the programme, I went back
to the school to teach. I taught in that school for two years. It was while I was there that I met my husband, Opeoluwa Osinbajo.

  • Was he also a teacher in the school?

He was not a teacher in the school. He came on a visit and he saw me. I knew him before that day and when he saw me, we exchanged greetings and he began to visit me in the school. It was later he told me he that wanted to marry me. And because I had known him before, I did not refuse his proposal. He was from Ikenne, Ogun State.

I actually agreed to his proposal because I knew him as a gentleman. He was a very good person. Besides, he was a friend to my sister’s husband. During that time, he was a student at the Federal School of Surveying, Oyo State. He was not rich then but I admired him for his other qualities.

 
  • What did your parents say when you told them about him?

I told them that I knew him very well and could vouch for his character. They told me to invite him to our house and I did. When he came, they were impressed with his behaviour and they endorsed our marriage. But our wedding did not hold immediately after he met my parents because it was not long after that that he travelled to England for further studies. He actually travelled abroad to be trained as a civil engineer. When he was there, he kept in touch. It was when he returned from England that we got married on December 28, 1954.

  • How was the union?

Our living together was very nice. It was a splendid union. He took me as his daughter because he was about 14 years older. He took very good care of me. God blessed our marriage with five wonderful children. We first had four boys and I prayed to God that I needed a girl. God graciously answered my prayer. I gave birth to a girl seven years after my last son.

  • What was the experience like bringing up four boys?

It was very tough raising four boys. That is why I am called ‘Mumisco.’ A mother with all boys will have to behave like a boy herself if she intends to train them properly. When they started growing up, I made it compulsory for them to say their prayers every morning. Whether they liked it or not, it was an activity that must be done. They would grumble but I did not budge. It was not easy training them. But we knew that someday, everything would be okay. And it turned out that way because all of them are doing well in their chosen careers. Two of them were once Attorneys-General and Commissioners for Justice in Ogun and Lagos states.

  • Can you recall any of the tricks they played?

One of them went out one day. I did not know but when I went to his room, I discovered that he had gone out. He returned the next morning. My husband was upstairs sleeping when I came downstairs to wait for him. He came in later wearing his night dress and holding his clothes in one hand. When he opened the door he saw me and I asked where he was coming from. He was surprised to see me and started crying when I said I would tell his father what he did. If his father knew what he did, he would beat him and refuse to send him abroad for further studies as he had promised them he would do after their university education. He prostrated and begged me. Since then, he did not do such again.

  • Did you influence the career choice of any one of them?

We did not influence the choice of careers of our children. Our duty was to guide them in making their career choices. My husband believed in allowing his children to do what they have capacities for. When he returned from England, he established the first electronic sawmill business in Ebute Metta to show what he had interest in. By the time we got married, I had stopped teaching. It was the sawmill business that we jointly ran. We would buy timbers and mill them for sale. The business flourished until his death in 1996.

  • What happened to him?      

He was just slightly sick and doctors advised that he should have some rest. He was at home resting all the time and one night, he called me that I should lead the prayer. I saw that he was dressing and I asked him where he was going. He said he was going nowhere. As I was about to round off the prayers, he shouted Halleluiah, became silent and died.

  • What happened to the business?  

It is no longer in operation because my children are not interested in it. And I do not intend to leave it without somebody to manage it.

 
  • What do you do each time you remember your husband?

Sometimes I cry, but most times I pray because we were so close. When he died, I thought everything was going to end. But God has been holding me.

  • Is there any difference between the moral training during your days and what we have now?

Let me start with the way ladies dress today. During our days, we never exposed any part of our body. We wore dresses such as gowns but they never exposed sensitive areas. Our shoes were not as high as we have today. One thing I have noticed is that most of what we wore then is now common today, but worn in a different way. We had our ways of dressing. Everything has changed. We didn’t stare at an elder’s face whenever we were being addressed. Today, children don’t respect elders again. I warn my children never to look me in the face whenever I am talking to them. But if you are looking in another direction while an elder talks to you, it shows a sign of respect for that person.

  • Do you have any special food?

I do not have any special food. I eat whatever I know is well-prepared and delicious. Also, I go for medical check-up regularly. I prepare my meals. I do not allow anybody to do that for me. My husband, until his death, never allowed house maids to prepare his meals. It was something we agreed on long before our marriage.

  • How do you relax?

I go to England every year to relax for some months. Another form of relaxation I engage in is by going to church. I also attend weddings and birthdays but I do not attend wedding receptions. I only attend receptions if the host is my close relative.

  • What special training did you give your children?

I trained them to have the fear of God and be responsible children.

  • Do you still see some of your childhood friends?

Some of them are dead. But I still see some. One of them, Stella, also clocked 80 recently. There is another one, Funmilola, who will be 80 soon.

  • What is your advice to parents?

My advice goes to the mothers, especially those who have boys to train. They must be very vigilant because sons are full of tricks unlike daughters. If she is sleeping, she must not sleep with her two eyes closed because they can sneak out. I ensured that I always went to their rooms to check on them and pray for them. Mothers must pray for their children always. Also, they should take care of their husbands because they are like children to us. Men are like children and any woman who wants to enjoy them must behave like mothers to them. Even when a man is 40 and he marries an 18-year-old, the wife is his mother. That was how I treated my husband.