Anita Ogona
The story, shared by a Facebook user named Cornelius Ellah, describes how he initially thought the baby’s mother had left the child with the mechanic to run some errands and would return shortly. However, upon asking, he discovered the truth was quite different.
The mechanic explained that the baby’s mother had abandoned them, leaving him as the sole caregiver for their child.
He wrote: “I took my car for servicing and saw what I consider as worthy of more urgent attention than my car.
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 neighborliness.
I told her Dad that this shouldn’t continue. I also got his permission to take a picture of him and Blessing.
See them.”
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