By Emmanuel Nweke
{This narrative is based on a true-life story from HRCRC archives. But to maintain confidentiality, the names of persons and places appearing in it have been changed. Any similarity with persons or places is mere coincidence. The story itself reflects the work we do and the value we place on building relationships.}
It all began when Chukwuma was born out of wedlock as a result of failed relationship between his late mother and her erstwhile boyfriend. At about four years after Chukwuma’s birth, her late mother, Grace, from Izzi extraction, in Ebonyi State, was given in marriage to Mr. Ugadu, from Ngbo in the same State, alongside Chukwuma, to avoid leaving him without a father. Chukwuma was too young to comprehend or suspect that Ugadu was not his real father as he enjoyed every form of peace and comfort, especially through his loving, enterprising and relatively rich mother. His mother bore five more children to Mr. Ugadu whom Chukwuma lovingly respected as his siblings.
Tragedy struck when Grace suddenly became sick and died. It became tough on Mr. Ugadu to attend to family responsibilities since his supportive wife was no more. Ugadu’s immediate line of action was to gradual withdraw his affection towards Chukwuma. The latter was abruptly withdrawn from school while his siblings continued theirs. As time passed, Ugadu’s preferential treatment was extended to welfare. While the other children enjoy good meals as at when due and were fairly clothed, Chukwuma was denied feeding and clothing. These treatments got him very confused and disturbed. However, the handwriting on the walls were yet to be fully comprehended by Chukwuma.
One day, in anger, when he was deprived of food, he asked Mr. Ugadu whether he was no longer part of his family to deserve such ill treatment. In reply and in a fit of rage for his daring to question him, Mr. Ugadu opened up: “you are not my son. You have never been”. This shocking revelation to Chukwuma was equally followed up with physical beating. He was then thrown out, banned from returning back to a place he had always known as his home. In complete confusion and pain, he was directed to Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Centre (HRCRC) in Abakaliki for help.
When HRCRC intervened, inviting and interviewing relevant parties, the maternal grandmother of Chukwuma made further revelation concerning the boy’s biological parents. It was learnt that Chukwuma’s biological father wanted the boy and the mother so earnestly but Grace’s family refused him because of his poverty. When Mr. Ugadu was invited by HRCRC, he denied ever maltreating Chukwuma and insisted that he was his son. But when he was asked to undertake in writing to send Chukwuma back to School and take adequate care of him, he vehemently refused, saying: “I have not finished taking care of my ‘real’ children let alone this ‘bastard’”.
It was at this juncture that Chukwuma’s grandmother revealed the true identity of the boy’s biological father, Mr. Nwibo. Unfortunately, Mr. Nwibo had died out of frustration. The old woman however, pointed out that Chukwuma has a number of uncles still living and would be very willing to accept the boy into their home.
HRCRC proceeded to invite the brothers of Late Mr. Nwibo. They were delighted to learn of the truth concerning their late brother’s son. They accepted to welcome Chukwuma into their family and perform the necessary rites. On the part of Ugadu, he further revealed that he only took in Chukwuma and tolerated him that much because the boy was part of the conditions given him before he could marry Grace, his late wife. HRCRC therefore, handed Chukwuma over to his biological relations. In a mood of joy and happiness, Chukwuma let out a loud sigh of relief exclaiming: “thanks to HRCRC for giving me a father, a fortune and a future”.