A staff of the Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), Cornelius Ellah, has shared the story of a mechanic, James Emina, who is now a single father after his wife abandoned him and their 7 months old daughter. 

“I took my car for servicing and saw what I consider as worthy of more urgent attention than my car,” he wrote in a Facebook post on Saturday, June 22, 2024. 

 

“When I got to the mechanic’s workshop located at Etta Agbor layout in Calabar, I noticed that one of the mechanics cuddled a very tender baby on his way to the workshop.

 

As soon as I saw that unusual sight, I felt that the baby’s mom or someone else would join him to either take the baby back home or nurse her while he attends to work. But that wasn’t the case.

 

I noticed that the baby was still at the workshop when I went back there to pick my car, after several hours. She looked frail and uncomfortable.

 

Meanwhile, her Dad was eating groundnut and chatting loudly with other mechanics at the workshop. I felt empathy for the baby and told her that she would be a great child.

 

My statement was a prayer. Her Dad and other mechanics heard me and answered “amen” on her behalf.

 

When I asked the mechanic about the whereabouts of his wife, he said “she don run go Akwa Ibom”.

 

He further told me that the baby’s name is Blessing and she is 7 months old.

 

According to him, Blessing’s mom left him 5 months ago and he has been her sole caretaker since then.

 

He said “na me alone de”, when I asked him about his relatives and relatives of his “wife”.

Very odd.

 

As we all know, a mechanic’s workshop isn’t a child-friendly place. It isn’t a creche.

 

 

This means that Blessing is deprived of a friendly environment, motherly love, family care and neighbourliness.

 

I told her Dad that this shouldn’t continue. I also got his permission to take a picture of him and Blessing. See them.