Sad Story!!! Aftermath of bus conductor’s death: Children out of school

Mrs. Abasirim and children

The harsh reality of the tragic end of Ikechukwu Abasirim, the bus conductor who was allegedly crushed to death by policemen attached to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, along Apapa/Oshodi expressway , last month, has begun to take its toll on his pregnant widow and four children.
As at Thursday last week, only one out of the four children of the late conductor had gone back to school while the rest were still at home, owing to lack of money to pay their school fees.

When Crime Guard visited the widow’s abode at Oshogbo street, Ijesha road, it was learnt that she had since relocated to her in-law’s place at Taiwo Keji street, along the same axis, with her four children.
GLOOM AT HOME

On arrival, parents of late Ikechukwu, were found sitting on a mat while their pregnant daughter-in-law sat on a sofa in the sitting room with her chin on her palm, carried away in thought. At a point, she clapped her hand and exclaimed in her dialect, apparently trying to fathom how long the pang of anguish will last. Her children on the other hand, were sighted in a corner of the sitting room looking gloomy . One of them had a reddish eye ball. The sight of the children aroused pity from sympathizers who still throng the home to commiserate with the family.

Out of concern, one of the visitors asked why the children were still at home instead of being in school. The distraught and dispirited widow responded in a weak tone “ they have not started because I do not have money to pay for their school fees”.

At that point, one of the children, Victor , broke down in tears and asked the mother curiously, “ does it mean I won’t go to school again?” The question elicited sympathy which was accompanied with a gush of tears from his grandparents, his mother and sympathizers.

Before his father’s demise, 7- year-old Victor, a primary 3 pupil, was said to have boasted to his parents that he would attend Kings college , after his primary education. He had reportedly also advised his father to be saving towards his university education but that dream may not be realised except a miracle happens.

WIDOW LAMENTS

In an emotion-laden tone, the pregnant widow lamented that the demise of her husband of 13 years had plunged the family into a difficult phase.

She said: “ I wonder how I will carry on without my husband. He might not be rich while alive but, at least , we lived within our limit. He managed to pay the children’s school fees as at when due.

But right now, I can’t foot the bills. Our first child , Ndubuisi, who is in Junior Secondary School in a public school has resumed.

The second child, Emmanuel (11) finished from a private school but I have to start processing a school in the public sector for him because the person that used to pay his fees is gone. But Victor (7) and Destiny (4) are still at home because of lack of funds. I honestly do not know where to begin from”, she said in tears,with sympathizers advising her to have a grip on herself , considering her present state.

FATHER’S REGRET

While she was lamenting, late Ikechukwu’ father, who retired from the Nigeria Ports Authority, kept shaking his head in self pity, trying as much as he could not to betray his emotion.

At a point, he said in a shaky voice: “ The most painful aspect of it is that I can not assist financially because I have not been paid my pension. Currently, we have dragged government to court over the non-payment of our pension. My dear daughter, you know that nothing can be more painful than watching one’s children sit at home while their mates are in school.

Much as I desire to assist them, I am financially handicap . My wife,(points to his wife who sat on a mat), a petty trader who has been assisting tremendously, is at home at the moment.

She has not been herself since the incident”. At 74, who will employ me, in order to take care of these children? This is, indeed, the most shattering incident that has happened to me since I was born”, he lamented.