THIS is the untold story of former Special Assistant to Oyo State Governor on people with disability, Prince Paul Ayodele Adelabu. The aide to Senator Abiola Ajimobi who was born with disability was reportedly subjected to be terminated.
Adelubu’s painstaking story similar to other children who are born with disabilities and therefore subjected to ridicules and neglect. Mega Icon Magazine’s investigation indicates that babies like Adelabu who are born with deformities and disabilities suffered societal stigma.
Further checks allegedly revealed that most of these children are killed or abandoned to their fate. In some instances, poisonous concoctions are forced down their throat after which, they are abandoned in a forest to die.
These wicked acts are committed with consents from parents and relatives of these children who believe this action will safe them embarrassments. To these end, these children had been written off in the society.
Narrating his ordeal to Mega Icon Magazine, Adelabu revealed how he narrowly escaped death, which today is part of his success story share to inspiring and better the lots of other persons living with disabilities.
Describing how difficult life is to the people living with disabilities including him recently in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, Adelabu in an heartbreaking mood disclosed that his birth was full of tragic as parents and family sobered, sad and wept profusely because he was disabled and deformed. He added that the family spontaneously decided to snuffed out his life and attempted to kill him because of his disability, since his twin sister, Taiwo was normal.
Fortunately for him, one of his brothers went against the decision and today, Prince Adelabu is now a source of joy to all and sundry. “I want to tell you that before the demise of my mother she was happy and fulfiled. I built house for her, gave her a beffitting burial and the governors of Oyo, Osun states alongside other prominent personalities graced the event”, he stressed.
While enjoining parents not to neglect or abandon any child due to deformity, Adelabu recalled, ” at Oritamerin while I was still a baby, the family held a meeting proposing to eliminate me to avoid embarrassment since we were two and the other one was normal, only one of my brothers, Evangelist Joshua went against their decision.
He further posited, “when you see me you can right me off, because what can a man with one hand do and so, it calls for efforts to dig out what can we do in terms of education and nothing can be better than education. Without education I wouldn’t have been a useful person, but a beggar on the streeet because when you see me, you will pity me and will like to give me something. However, you need to empathize me and not sympathise”.
The former Special Adviser, therefore called on government to assist the less privileged and bring out their potentials, the hidden talents, and the residual abilities to the fore.
While promising to continually support people living with disabilities as well as assuring them of a better future , he challenged them not to lose hope.
Prince Adelabu who appreciated God for His mercies finally concluded, ” I have been wining and dinning with Nigerian Presidents since 1990. I ask myself, Aso rock where many struggle to enter and they cannot enter, I have been there severally”.
By Idowu Ayodele
(C) Mega Icon Magazine
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