Father of triplets alleges neglect from Lagos government after 8 years

 
Mr Musibau Adeyemo, 55, who was promised support by the past administration in Lagos State after his wife was delivered of triplets in 2003, said on Friday that the pledges had yet to be redeemed. ``I am unhappy and confused and that is why I am using this medium to inform the present administration about this situation. ``But, as we speak, those pledges have not been redeemed, `` he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

Adeyemo said he was promised cash donations and landed property by the past administration in Lagos, adding that government ought not to be seen defaulting or reneging on its promises.

He said former governor Bola Tinubu and his wife made the pledge when they visited the family, at home, after the triplets were delivered, adding that every effort to get the pledges redeemed had suffered various setbacks. ``It was the Tinubu administration that said that it was going to support us with those gifts based on the condition they met us.

``But eight years after, my effort to get the cash and landed property I was promised, as support, for the upkeep of the triplets is fruitless, `` he said.

According to him, ``we have used all efforts at our disposal to get the donations, but failed.''

He, however, said that some amount of money had been received from the former governor's wife and that the hospital bills were paid by the couple. `` We acknowledge that we have received N50,000 from Mrs Oluremi Tinubu and that they supported us financially when the triplets were admitted at the Mercy Hospital.

``And we have been told to be wary of some people who might be bent on diverting the donations for their personal use,'' he said.

He said that the triplets', Tolu, Tobi and Tomisin births coincided with the delivery of the Siamese twins delivered that year.

``My triplets were supervised by a Chief Consultant, one Dr Williams and another Dr Akande, while the Siamese twins were placed under one Dr Adedeji before taken abroad for surgery,'' he said.

He claimed that the approval letter for the property was given to his wife, Mrs Olutope Adeyemo, 40, but that it was collected from her by government officials.

Adeyemo added that after sometime when they went to the Lagos State Secretariat, they were asked to present the letter that was collected from the wife.

He said they were also asked to present pictures or relevant publications that would reflect the true state of health of the triplets. `` We have presented documents to show how the triplets are faring. ``In fact, the presentation was covered by a reporter, whose name I recall was Bola Tijani from Lagos Television (LTV), '' he said. Adeyemo urged the present administration and well meaning Nigerians to prevail on those in charge to release their gifts. ``We are suffering. The triplets no longer attend school and one of them could neither talk nor walk at present,'' he said. Attempts to get the present administration to comment on the development failed.

(NAN)