There was infectious joy penultimate Thursday when a jobless man, Isiaka Yusuf, who absconded after his wife was delivered of a set of triplets reunited with his wife and babies.
The identical triplets were named Ameerat, Zainab and Ahmed.
Yusuf’s homecoming followed appeals by sympathisers, including the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Lagos State, Princess Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, who urged him to return home for the sake of his family during a visit to their residence a few days ago.
The Nation had exclusively reported on Saturday May 21, that Yusuf bolted shortly after he was asked to pay N500, 000 as hospital bill following a ceasarian operation carried out on his wife when she was delivered of the babies.
In the report, Yusuf, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone, said he decided to stay away since he doesn’t have any means of taking care of my wife and children.
Our correspondent also reported on Saturday May 28 how Akinbile-Yusuf and Executive Secretary of Agbado Oke Odo Local Council Development Area, Hon. David Famuyiwa, donated cash and baby items to the triplets’ mother.
Speaking with The Nation during a visit to his residence at No 4, Agesinjaweifa Street, Temidire area of Alagbado, Lagos suburb, Yusuf said he was forced to leave home because of lack of money to take care of his wife and children.
His wife, Idowu, could not hide her joy for seeing her husband over one month after her husband left home.
She said:” I was more than happy when he returned home on Thursday. His return followed appeals by concerned people. His presence has strengthened my morale and hope that things would get better for us.I thank all those who have been supporting our family through cash and donation of items for my babies since my plight was brought to the notice of members of public through The Nation newspaper.
Yusuf gave reasons for his controversial disappearance from home, saying: “It was never my intention to abandon my family but I was forced to leave home unannounced when doctors demanded N500, 000 as hospital bill after my wife was delivered of the babies.
“I also became worried after the babies exhausted 50 pieces of diapers within four days. And when I couldn’t think of how to salvage my situation, I decided to leave my family to their fate by absconding from home. I could barely feed let alone pay hospital bill having lost my job as cab driver.
“I left home for Lakowe area of Ajah where I was sleeping inside vehicles parked in a filling station. My colleagues were only responsible for my feeding and I was hoping that I could return to my job as cab driver soon”.
He explained that his return became inevitable following calls from concerned people who read his wife’s story published in The Nation.
“Although, my sister, who was staying with my wife, had urged me to return home but I did not listen to her. I was however encouraged to come home after some concerned persons who read the story in your newspaper (The Nation) called me on the telephone and asked me to return to my family.
“One of those who called me was my acquaintance in Alagbado and a brother who lives in Ondo State. They claimed to have heard about my plight on radio stations during newspaper reviews.”
It was learnt that a woman identified simply as Iya Nla has paid Yusuf’s two-year-rent arrears and also bought a brand new motorcycle for him, so he could use it to work as a commercial motorcyclist.
Yusuf added: “ I am not thinking of leaving my family again, even though I still need financial support to take care of my children. I thank everyone who has supported us including the commissioner(Akinbile-Yusuf); Agbado/Oke Odo council chairman(Famuyiwa);Iya Nla for their generosity.”
The post My story, by runaway father of triplets …as he returns appeared first on The Nation Nigeria.