Nigeria’s stowaway boy reveals family crisis

 
JETHRO IBILEKE/Benin
Contrary to the account by Osaigbovo Oikhena, father of 13-year-old stowaway boy, Ricky Daniel, that he did not abandon his family, Mrs. Evelyn Oikhena has revealed how her husband abandoned her when she ran into financial problems.
Evelyn who has vowed never to reconcile with her husband, disclosed that she separated from her husband over one year as a result of incessant beatings as well as her indebtedness to Lift Above Poverty Organization (LAPO), a micro-finance bank.
According to Evelyn, whose runaway son was released to her on Tuesday, trouble started when robbers attacked and robbed her on her business trip from Koko town, in Warri North local government area of Delta state, sometimes last year, following which he could no longer repay the LAPO loan.
She further disclosed that due to the severe beatings she received from her husband, she suffered defect in one of her eyes, which has affected her vision.
She also disclosed when she reported to her husband that their son was missing, his only response was that, “I should go and look for his son for him,” but that the husband and his family members have been disturbing her with several calls on hearing that her son has been given scholarship by Rauf Aregbesola foundation.
“We separated over one year now. We separated because of the problem I had with LAPO. I was robbed on my way from business trip to Koko market in Delta State. I always go to the market to buy goods.
“I also had defect in one of my eyes that affected my vision at the moment. I cannot see with one of my eyes at the moment due to incessant beaten I received from him. The question you people should ask him is whether he knows the private school Daniel was attending before I transferred him to public school at Ogbe.
“He has since abandoned us. He and his family have been disturbing me with several calls since they heard that Daniel has been given scholarship. My son has also told the governor and SSS that he doesn’t want to see his father. My husband is currently staying in his mother house,” she said.
Mr. Osaigbovo Oikhena, from Ora community in Owan West local government of Edo state had in an interview with newsmen at government house Tuesday denied that he has separated from his wife.
Oikhena who claimed that he was still responsible for the upkeep and the education of his four children, added that they decided to stay apart when his wife refused to move in with him due to quarrels they had last year.
He said that they both went to the police station at Evbuotubu police station to lay a formal complain where they were not seen the boy at home.
Nothing was heard of Mr. Oikhena until last Tuesday when he suddenly resurfaced at the Edo State Government House when the state governor, Adams Oshiomhole, was to hold a meeting with the state Director of State Security Service (SSS), Mr. Bello Bakori, officials of the state ministry of women affairs and social development as well as Ricky Daniel and his mother.
-Culled from PM News