The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • NGO raises hope for the poor

    NGO raises hope for the poor

    The Respite Educational Support, a non-governmental organisation, is raising fund to get out-of-school kids educated.

    The group has also provided free school uniforms to schools in the Ifako-Ijaye Local Government Area of Lagos State. The beneficiaries are Diamonds Mine Primary School and Ijaye Highland College.

    The organisation’s Programme Director, Shobitan Pat, many children were out of school due to lack of support from parents and guardians.

    “The situation is like a vicious circle; as such, parents were also sent out of school during their school days, thus making them unable to achieve their educational goals and ended up living in poverty and lack,” she said.

    She observed that children from such indigent backgrounds were often brilliant and intelligent.

    “With their great potential, all they require is the financial support to enable them get a good education, so they can make a positive impact on our nation and the world at large,” she added.

    She also disclosed that the group would provide health education to the young people, empower the girl child, reduce early marriage among female and help reduce the “no-fees-go- home syndrome”.

    The Principal of the Highland College, Opebiyi Gabriel, thanked the NGO for the donation. Gabriel said: “They never thought of what you have done today; you have given them another hope to boost their morale; I will enjoin the organisation to extend it to school fees because we have a lot of financial challenges in schools presently. In fact, some of the students are owing about two terms.

    “It is a very big challenge because some of them owe, if the organisation can come to their aids to an extent, it would be gladly appreciated, the organisation is doing a very tremendous work.”

    The Proprietress, Diamonds Mine, Aderibigbe Romoke, said the economic situation in the country has made things more difficult for parents.

    “It is not easy for everybody; parents are no longer able to perform their roles in the family,” Aderibigbe said.

  • Cleric to Fed Govt: listen to the people

    The General Overseer and Spiritual Leader of Awamaridi Church of Christ, His Grace Eminence Primate Gabriel Olaboye Omotosho has said only can solve Nigeria’s problems.

    Omotosho spoke after his church’s thirty–ninth convention and thanksgiving service tagged: “Ma Sunkun Mo” (Cry No More) adapted from Luke 11:13.

    He said: “The leaders of this nation should desist from lies, falsehood, and deceit. It is possible for God to show us Mercy in this country if only we can imbibe the culture of truthfulness.

    “Our leaders have plunged this Nigeria into her present state. The citizens must pray fervently. Presently, the recession that is biting hard is a sign of good things to come. The leaders should have the fear of God and must desist from falsehood, banditry. If only they can shun looting of public funds, deceit, falsehood, God will show us abundant mercy in Nigeria and things may change better than it was before. Now President Muhammadu Buhari has only succeeded in placing his Hausa/Fulani in a key position and when Yoruba is in a higher position he will be seconded by an Hausa subordinate who will keep on troubling him.”

    The church’s chairman, Evang. Temidayo Ogunjobi, said God has wiped away the tears of those who attended the convention.

  • Akarigbo throne: Sacred stool under threat

    Akarigbo throne: Sacred stool under threat

    The office of the Akarigbo of Remo is undoubtedly the symbolic expression of the spiritual and physical existence of a particular sub ethnic group within the global Yoruba nation. Hence, the occupier of this office, at any point in time, is not just a persona with the true blood and culture of Remo running in his veins, he is, essentially, a personification of the individual and collective destiny and aspirations of his sprawling subjects spread across hundreds of towns and villages in Ogun State. The exit of the immediate past Akarigbo of Remo, His Royal Majesty Oba Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo (Erinjugbo ii) into the ancestral world in July 2016 has since reincarnated royal aspirations in many individuals having the Remo blue blood, just as this painful exit has recycled the traditional process of filling this all-important stool which, in reality, defines the existence as well as the distinguishing characters of the people of Remo Kingdom.

    In a way, the Remo people are traditional democrats. The current uniting consensus on the rotational formula that entitles the Torungbuwa royal family to the vacant stool is nothing but a delighting status quo in an originally complex Kingdom with a highly fragile socio-cultural psychology. If anything, this consensus denotes the reputed sensitivity of my people to issues relating to social justice, equity and fairness, a virtue that has, for long, set us free from threatening identity colonisation by our immediate neighbours.

    Notably, our success, so far, on the socio-cultural and political plane has sprung from our resilient and somewhat militant addiction to progress at all times. And, it is simply because any potentially retrogressive development is typically loathed by the average Remo sons and daughters, including even long-standing stranger-residents amidst us, that many a discerning mind is alarmed, in advance, by a tragedy waiting to happen, courtesy of the selfish determination of some moneybags to hijack the vacant stool of the Akarigbo and hand it over to an octogenarian whom the public opinion actually places within the class of nonagenarian.

    Although having an over eighty year-old newly installed as a monarch in any contemporary jet-age community is, in itself, a retrogressive deal not just for the community directly concerned but for the extended geo-cultural context it is located, the idea of having such a retiree imposed as a tool of a single man of means in his bid to deploying an originally sacred throne for selfish socioeconomic and political ends will be nothing but catastrophic.

    The fear of the majority is quite understandable. More than ever before, money now seems to do all things, almost without exception. Hence, ceaseless cries have rented the Remo air to alert the Ogun State Government, the Akarigbo Council of Chiefs, the Kingmakers, the youth leadership, every other category of stakeholders and the general public to the evil that is about to be sponsored by a single man but which effect is bound to negatively affect the sprawling masses of Remo land whose hope for a better tomorrow is strongly tied to the quality of leadership the Akarigbo throne offers them.

    Yes! I mean the Akarigbo of Remo seat, a traditional royal office, and not the federal, state nor even the local government leadership. Truth be told, the closest and most impacting organ of governance on the Remo people has, for long, remained their traditional authority, epitomized by the paramount ruler.

    Just as it is in other frontline Yoruba kingdoms of Ile-Ife and Oyo, so it is in Remo land. The bridge between the people and the three-tier constituted authorities known as government in Ile-Ife, for instance, is the highly revered institution of the Ooni of Ife while in Oyo, it is the Iku Baba Yeye, Alafin of Oyo. Only the naïve would contest the fact that the quality of whatever proceeds from government into any of these two traditional communities is, largely, a function of the potent influence characteristically exerted by occupiers of these sacred offices at any point in time.

    Perhaps, I should desist from resisting an impulse that dictates I reinforce my argument against the emergence of an octogenarian Akarigbo, at this point in time, through a reference to the tremendous dynamism and progress so far heralded by the ascension of His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, Ooni of Ife. What has become of Ile-Ife and, in fact, the entire Nigeria, not just the Yoruba nation, in terms of socioeconomic advancements either initiated or facilitated by the widely-adored young symbol of Oduduwa, within a little while, are indeed innumerable. To the entire Yoruba race, Ooni Adeyeye, His Royal Majesty’s youthful liberalism, flexibility and dynamism have really boosted intra-ethnic oneness.

    To a large extent, the Ooni’s status, personality and psychology succinctly reflect the aspiration of majority of his immediate subjects and much of the contemporary IT-compliant population of the entire Yoruba race.

    In another breadth, allowing a godfather whose partisan political leaning is a loud music to the ears of the deaf, a vivid picture beheld by the blind and the simplest logic to the brain of the nit-wit to plant a strategic monarch that the Akarigbo really constitutes in the socio-political affairs of Ogun State and Nigeria, as a whole, is to, in advance, dig a wide pit for all and sundry to fall into.

    It would spell nothing but doom in all spheres of life, if I am hereby permitted to call a spade by its true name. Thus, a supposed father of all would become a personification of partisanship, a situation that would surely draw the hands of our national clock back to the teething age of democracy that the First Republic really was. I mean a time when royal father adorned as well as danced in public squares with costumes branded in parties’ logo.

    In the build-up to the selection of the next paramount ruler of Remo land, one thing I find interesting is the unity of purpose that has so far tied majority of the indigenes together. Not just the enlightened and educated, even the unlettered mass amongst us, as well as the both the local and foreign based, are united with respect to who and what they do not want as the next Akarigbo of Remo, irrespective of glaring differences of preference relating to the rest of the candidates. In fact, the air that presently caresses the Remo land does nothing but whistles into the ears of the entire global village that our progressive Kingdom does not deserve a King that normally ought to serve us best as one of the Baba Oba (King’s fathers) in our fast-changing world.

    • Afaranpojo writes in from the United Kingdom
  • Help Kehinde live well

    Help Kehinde live well

    Isiaka Yusuf, 51, needs help to pay the medical bills of one of his twins.

    Kehinde Yusuf, 7, is receiving treatment at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. He developed hydrocephalus and chronic rhinosinusitis when he was a toddler.

    According to Yusuf, his son, while he was a toddler developed a high temperature, and when efforts to bring it down by the mother, Rasheedat Yusuf, a 39-year-old auxiliary nurse, proved abortive, he was taken to a hospital.

    He said: “So, we took the child to a private hospital. The doctor said there was a need to give the child drip. He said he could not see any vein on the hands or legs,  that the only alternative is to pass same through the head.

    “Since we believed in his expertise and judgement, we agreed. The doctor shaved a part of the head and passed the drip. To our surprise, the child’s condition worsened. So we took our child to University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. There after diagnosis, including Compterised Tomography (CT) scan of the brain, we were told that the child’s temperature was tending toward convulsion and that the doctor has mismanaged him because the drip he passed through the head was wrongly done. And that it has caused the child to develop hydrocephalus and chronic rhinos-inusitis.”

    His family took the case up with the doctor, “and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) waded in and penalised the doctor for professionalism misconduct”.

    “But at UCH, the treatment continued and I sold my car thinking the treatment wasn’t going to drag for long, “said the perturbed father.

    Kehinde is undergoing physiotherapy at UCH in preparation for a surgical intervention, called Tenotomy, which costs about N2million.

    Monetary donations can be done via: Kehinde Abdul-Raheem Yusuf, Skye Bank, Account number 1031284723 or call 08026208718/08055914111

     

  • Communities to Ambode: save us from extinction

    Communities to Ambode: save us from extinction

    Residents of Alaramimo, Aranse Olu, Azeez Olaose-bikan and Orelope Communities, all in Orile-Agege, have appealed to the Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to save them from extinction.

    They said the communities with a population of about 350,000 people are threatened by extinction. The problem centres around an abandoned canal, which now encourages heavy flooding.  It all started nine years ago.

    Presidents of Alaramimo Community Development Association (CDA), Mr David Adesanya and Soretire and Environs Community Development Association (CDA) Alhaji Lateef Ejalonibu  are pleading with the governor to address their plight before this year’s rain begins.

    Leading other dejected and angry residents as they took The Nation round the communities, both leaders said the abandoned portion of the canal between Alaramimo and Azeez Olaosebikan streets have become a threat to lives and property in the area. They said many property owners who could no longer cope with the suffering sold their properties.

    According to Adesanya, the happiness that signaled the commencement of the project turned sour when it was abandoned.

    He noted that since the canal cleaning, de-silting and concrete lining project were abandoned in 2008, the people have been exposed to all manners of deprivations, including untold health hazards, as they became receptors of all the wastes coming from abattoir and its environs.

    “Besides the health hazards which many of our residents have become innocent casualties of, to which they have had to bear the consequences alone, the people have also been denied basic life supporting infrastructures. The roads have gone from bad to worse, and life is becoming increasing unbearable for us all,” Adesanya sadly observed.

    He noted that residents have not been keeping quiet about the matter. According to him, though they had written several petitions to the former governor since 2012, to show their resilience, they had in a letter to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode dated June 16, last year, intimated the governor of the need for his urgent intervention on the issue.

    “Sir, as at July 2012, we have written several letters on the abandoned roads in our CDA to the governor and other relevant arms of the government then, to assist in making our roads motorable for the past 8 years when it has been neglected. As it was then, so it is today,” the letter to Ambode, a copy of which was given to The Nation had stated.

    Streets that are badly affected by the ravaging effect of the neglected canal are Alaramimo, Olaleye, Adeniji, and Aranse Olu. He noted that the contractor handling the project from Abattoir stopped work at Alaramimo Street, abandoned Alaramimo and Azeez Olaosebikan, and continued the concrete lining project upstream.

    “The effect of this abandonment has been borne in silence by our residents who cannot come in or go out any time it rains. The flood that overruns this abandoned canal had drowned no fewer than 10 people since 2008, the last being that of a carpenter who was swept away by the flood at Alaramimo.”

    He went on: “The sad thing is that a blinding of the canal floor, a distance of up to 50 metes had been done before it was abandoned. The concrete floor has today been rendered useless as the entire area have been overgrown with bush.”

    His colleague, Alhaji Ejalonibu, said despite repeated appeals that haveseen residents inviting Hon. Yinka Ogundimu, its representative at the House of Assembly, the Commissioner for the Environment Hon. Samuel Adejare and Hon Taofeek Adaranijo with the hope that those may help influence the government over the carnage of the abandoned project, nothing has been done.

    Ejalonibu said the neglected canal is also badly affecting the world class Soretire Primary Health Care Centre, which despite government’s huge commitment continued to suffer poor patronage as a result of poor road network.

    Evangelist James Amosu appealed to the government to save the people of the area.

    Amosu, who is over 70, said he and other aging residents have resigned to fate, pleading with the governor to look at the area with some kindness and assist the people.

    Secretary, Soretire and Environs CDA Kayode Alatise said the governor should look kindly at Alaramimo and environs and help the people live a more dignified life.

    Alabi Adewunmi, a resident of Alaramimo Street, said the canal has made motoring a thing of the past in the area. According to him, Upper Alaramimo, which leads to Oko-Oba,  had become impassable as motorists could no longer link lower Soretire to Abule Egba.

    “Residents of this area want Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to bring meaningful governance to their doorstep by addressing the neglected canal that has become a major blot in the lives of the people. A project meant to improve the lives of the people, prevent flooding and improve easy flow of waste water can never be abandoned by any sensitive government. Let the government be sensitive to our needs in this part of the state and address this canal that has been abandoned for nine years,” another resident retorted.

    For Lawrence Akinbile, resolving the abandoned Alaramimo canal remains the solution to abating flood disaster in these parts. “The Governor should live by the slogan of his government by bringing progress to the people of this area. We have suffered for too long, we have bore this neglect for nine years, it is time for the government to bring smile to our face as it has been doing for several communities in different parts of the state since it came into power,” Akinbile noted.

  • Monarch seeks end to hunger

    The monarch of Ketu land, Oba Isiaka Oyero Balogun, has called on the government to reduce hunger in the country.

    The Oba spoke during the Ketu /Agboyi community town hall meeting.

    Oba Balogun said: “We are aware the government is working very hard. There is hunger in the land. Let us all embrace our own products in Nigeria. I urge the Lagos State government to upgrade the pedestrian bridge in Ketu main entrance linking Ketu/Orile-Ketu across town.

    The major problem facing Nigeria is lack of electricity. The supply of power should be stable. The government should revisit prices of commodity that have hit the rooftop. Government policies should wear human face that will also force the high rising cost of commodities to a reasonable level.”

  • 500 benefit from empowerment programme

    500 benefit from empowerment programme

    The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yusuff Lasun, who is representing Osogbo/Oloru-nda/Ifelodun/Orolu federal constituency of Osun State, has spent N250 million to alleviate poverty and create wealth among the people Osun State.

    No fewer than 500 people including farmers, women and youths had benefited from the Deputy Speaker’s empowerment programme through training, cash gift and provision of free equipment and materials in their various areas of specialisation.

    The beneficiaries include 350 farmers who were nominated and chosen across the local governments of Osun State by the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and 150 youths.

    50 people were trained in mushroom plantation, preservation and marketing, 100 others were trained in fishery farm and 200 participants were lectured on plantain plantation.

    The 150 youths were expected to be trained in ICT but the late delivery of materials needed for training delayed the programme.

    After completion of the ICT training, each of the 150 youths would collect a N270-worth laptop, six-month etisalat subscription and N50,000.

    The 350 beneficiaries, who had completed their training were awarded certificate and presented gifts on Friday, February 24, at the Constituency Office of the deputy speaker located at Oroki Estate, Osogbo.

    Each fish farmer was given N50,000, coal and electric powered oven, fish smoken kiln and fish box while those that went for mushroom training were given N100,000.

    The farmers that were trained in plantain were given 20 suckers of plantains, cutlasses, wheel-biro and N75,000 cash each.

    Speaking on the objective of the programme, the Consultant, Prof. Olufemi Peters, said Hon. Lasun wanted to encourage self-reliance and high productivity in agricultural sector to combat poverty headlong.

    He added that the programme was to improve skills and agricultural entrepreneurship through identification of beneficiaries who are in need.

    Peters stated that the empowerment programme would also improve quality of livelihood through sustainable food security programme.

    On the monitoring of the beneficiaries, Peters disclosed that a committee comprising members of the Lasun’s constituency office, AFAN and the consultant has been inaugurated to guide them.

    He stated that the committee is to ensure that the farmers set up their farms as soon as possible, give them regular training and communicate update research ideas to them.

    “We have also establish cooperative community for the beneficiaries for them to be holding meeting, source for more fund, create network for marketing and share ideas with one-another.

    He said: “We have also created e-networking for marketing and communication through the social media to share their experiences and challenges on their various farm and market.”

    The empowerment progarmme was organised in collaboration with the Forest Research Institute of Nigeria and Federation of Stud Green Institute.

    One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Ayodeji Bolarinwa, a farmer, described the empowerment programme as timely and needed at the present time to reduce poverty to the barest minimum among the people of the state. Commending the Deputy Speaker, another beneficiary, Mrs. Idowu Ayobode, said the Ilobu-born lawmaker has demonstrated his keenness in promoting agriculture and empowering the people to dissuade them from running after politicians to beg for money. Ayobode charged other political office holders to emulate what he described as good character and good gesture of the deputy speaker.

  • Armless ex-PHCN worker: I’ve been abandoned

    Mr Tairu Quadri, whose two arms were amputated after an explosion during an official assignment as an employee of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), on Monday threatened to commit suicide over neglect and unpaid compensation.

    Quadri, who is married with two children, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that since the incident occurred in 2008, he had been living a hopeless life.

    He appealed to the Ikeja Electric (IE) to urgently come to his assistance in procuring and maintaining his prosthesis, permanent accommodation and compensation for the damage.

    Quadri recounting the incident that led to the amputation of his two arms said that he joined the defunct PHCN as a casual worker in 2001.

    Quadri from Odo-Ayan, Omojoda Town, Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State told NAN that he was studying Electrical Engineering at the OlabisiOnabanjo University (OOU) in Ogun when the sad incident occurred.

    “I was employed by the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) as a casual worker in 2001.

    “I was posted to the fault section, Oworonsoki-undertaking, Ifako-Gbagada with Mr Jimoh Olanbiwoninu as my supervisor.

    “I was working at this section until 2003 when I was transferred to Maryland Service Centre. In 2004/2005 academic session; I gained admission to study Electrical Engineering at the OOU.

    “In 2008, I was at the defunct NEPA for my Industrial Training Programme (ITP), but this time its name had been changed to Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

    “The company sent me to its Magodo Service Centre for my ITP,” he said.

    Quadri said his destiny changed for the worse on May 5, 2008 during a fault-rectification due to lack of coordination between Ojodu District dispatch man and the 11kva operator at Maryland, who was later sacked.

    “On May 5, 2008, I was electrocuted while trying to clear a fault at Okowora Undertaking at Magodo Centre along with other service team.

    “However, I was lucky to be alive after the incident and was transferred to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for medical attention.

    “In order to save my life, the LUTH’s medical team treating me said my two hands had to be amputated. I had no option than to agree to the proposal,” he said.

    Quadri said that he underwent four different operations at the Burns Unit, LUTH, which spanned one year and four months.

    After that, I was discharged from LUTH so as to go for further treatment abroad which materialised in 2009.

    He said that when he was in LUTH, a committee from the then PHCN, Ikeja Zone, came to visit him and promised to make appropriate recommendations to its management.

    Quadri, however, said nothing was done until his case got to the Ministry of Power and the management of PHCN was directed to treat it the urgency it required.

    “Therefore, I was flown to India for prosthetic surgery; this was intended to aid my mobility.

    “The travelling was coordinated from the Abuja head office of the then PHCN.

    “But all I can say about my treatment in India was that it was a complete fraud because provision for my prosthesis was sublet twice.

    “I came back to Nigeria disappointed, sad and with a heavy grief because of the prosthesis provided.

    “I was, however, persuaded by the management of PHCN that it would take decisive and urgent actions on my matter.

    “Consequently, an ad-hoc committee was set up to look into my case and make recommendations.

    “They met me at the PHCN clinic, Oshodi, in March 2010 to tell them my demands.

    “I demanded for an urgent replacement of my prosthesis, a permanent accommodation and compensation.

    “The committee approved these three demands and added that some allowances be given to me to ease my suffering which included paying for my accommodation temporarily.

    “The management quickly paid for my temporary accommodation but failed to act on the main demands till now,” he said.

    He said that the management had stopped paying for the temporary accommodation since October 2013 when it was privatised.

    Quadri said that since privatisation of the defunct PHCN gave birth to Ikeja Electric and others distribution companies.

    He said that the Ikeja Electric that was supposed to be responsible for solving his problems since his matter falls under its jurisdiction had been treating him like a leper every time he visited it for his demands.

    He said that the officials of the company were not attending to him any longer.

    Quadri said that one of the officials of the company had advised him to take N2million the company wanted to give him and ‘walk away’.

    “This money cannot do anything because I want to go back to school to finish my education.

    “I have two children and a wife to take care of; now with no hands how will I be able to cater for my family.

    “I am living from the help I had been receiving from friends and family members.

    “The IE had reneged on its promise to replace my amputated arms with working one, this incident has made me completely useless to my family.

    “What is the essence of my living without hands, the only hope I have is being dashed. It is now about nine years since I lost my hands.

    “If I cannot get my hands back, then I should be compensated and given a permanent job by the company I risked my life for.

    “At present, I owe my landlord a year’s rent and if I can’t pay by end of February, I know what will happen.

    “My patience is running out; please do something Ikeja Electric.

    “I lost everything while working for you, I will put an end to this miserable life if these three demands are not meant,’’ he said emotionally.

    Mr Felix Ofulue, the Head, Corporate Communication Unit, Ikeja Electric, expressed the sympathy of IE to Quadri when NAN asked him what IE was doing to ameliorating his plights.

    Ofulue, however, said the incident happened nine years before the privatisation of the PHCN, adding that Quadri was not a staff member of Ikeja Electric.

    He said all the liabilities of the defunct PHCN had been transferred to the Nigerian Liability Management Limited (NELMCO) shortly before the privatisation of the sector.

    Ofulue advised Quadri to seek assistance from NELMCO where he believed his file would be treated.

     

  • Committee to auctioneers: ignore former exco

    The Caretaker Committee of the Nigeria Association of Auctioneers (NAA) has advised members to ignore anyone claiming to be its national president.

    The committee, in a statement in Lagos, said the Aliyu Kiliya-led executive council had been dissolved.

    The statement by the committee reads: “At the end of the Caretaker Committee meeting of (NAA) with the three registered Board of Trustees in Lagos on Thursday, 23rd February, it was resolved and agreed that a meeting with all state chairmen be slated to hold in Abuja on the 16th of March. The venue, time and agenda of the meeting shall be forwarded to all concerned. We appreciate your patience and understanding to reposition the association for the betterment of all.

    “The former exco led by Alhaji Aliyu Kiliya is directed to hand over all the association’s property to the caretaker committee. All members should disregard any information or instruction from Aliyu Kiliya-led exco. Any move by the Kiliya’s exco for the settlement is welcomed by the Trustees.

    “The former exco led by Alh Aliyu Kiliya are advice to stop parading themselves as the executive of the association in their own interest.”

    The body also pointed out that Adewale Yusuf is the leading counsel to the Board of Trustees (Chief Suaibu Akan, Alh Fatai Mogbonjubola and Pa Suara Ade Ajuwon) in the suit filed against it by Kiliya.

     

  • I can’t bear my husband strong sexual urge again, wife tells court

    An estranged wife, Sola Bamisile, 30, on Monday told an Ikole Ekiti Customary Court that she could no longer bear her husband’s strong sexual urge.

    The petitioner alleged that her husband, Bayo Bamisile, constantly beat her whenever she refused him sex.

    Sola told the court that within five and a half years of their marriage she had given birth to four children.

    She also alleged that the respondent failed to care for her and the children.

    According to her, none of the children is in school.

    “I always quarrel with my husband because none of our children is in school; there is no proper care for me and the children.

    “My husband is always concerned about having sex with me whenever he has taken palm-wine.

    “He has not even paid my dowry,’’ she said.

    The petitioner, however, told the court that her husband and his family members had been reaching out to her to reconsider her divorce move.

    “My husband and his family have been coming to me to change my mind about the divorce.

    “He has also written a letter of undertaking to be of good behaviour,’’ she said.

    The petitioner tendered the letter of undertaking in court as exhibit.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the letter was admitted by the court.

    The respondent denied the allegation of constantly fighting his wife and failing to take care of his family.

    He however admitted not paying the dowry.

    The president of the court, Mrs Yemisi Ojo, ruled that the plaintiff should monitor the respondent’s behaviour for three months to ascertain if he had changed.

    She also ordered that the man should enrol his children in school before the next adjourned date.

    Ojo adjourned the case to May 8 for report of settlement.