Labake is a mentally-challenged teenager. Two years ago someone took advantage of her condition, impregnated and abandoned her. She begged for food and money to survive.
The first time l saw her was in October 2020 when she strayed into my event. She was being dragged out by security men when she caught the attention of one of the guests, Kafayat Oyetola; wife of the Osun State governor.
The First Lady took Labake to Osogbo, rehabilitated and took care of her till she delivered. Then she brought Labake back to Apomu, headquarters of Isokan Local Government Area of Osun State.
This year, an unknown man, whose name according to Labake is “operator,” impregnated her and disappeared.
On Thursday November 3, l was told Labake was at the Palace gate. I thought it was her usual visit for support. I asked one of my staff to take some things to her. He returned with a paper and said Labake was crying profusely.
The paper was the scan result which showed, among other things, that she had been due since October 24 and the baby’s breech position in her womb posed a great danger to her life. The baby’s head was up instead of down. The ideal position for birth is head down.
I asked the security to let her in. When I saw her, I didn’t need to be told that she was in great pain. I called Julius Edet and Moses Bello (both members of the medical team I established for my project, “Initiative to stop teenage pregnancy,) to come to the palace. They took her to the health centre. After payment was made for registration and tests, the officials said there was no doctor to attend to her.
She was taken to another health centre. The matron spoke to me. She said Labake’s condition was beyond them. She advised that she should be taken to a private hospital or General Hospital, Oluyoro, Ibadan, because the only way she could give birth was through operation.
For me Ibadan was not an option at all because of distance and gridlock. Labake may not have survived the stress in the condition that she was.
I decided to call the chairman of our local government, Goke Odetunde. He responded immediately. I told him the situation on the ground. He said that Labake should be taken to a private hospital in a neighbouring community. He also paid the bill.
To the glory of Almighty God, the operation was successful. She was delivered of a baby boy. Mother and child are alive. But the journey to save Labake has not ended. I would like to rehabilitate and provide a safe shelter for her. She can then acquire a skill or start a trade.
I want to thank the council chairman for the rapid response and kind gesture. Kudos to Edet and Bello for devoting their time and attention to stay with Labake throughout her agonising hours.
I want to appeal to the men who keep talking advantage of Labake’s mental condition to sexually abuse and impregnate her to desist. If she were their sister or daughter, I don’t think they would be happy if someone does that to her.
Most likely, one would describe such an act as man’s inhumanity to a vulnerable teenage girl.
Afolabi is a queen of Apomuland, Osun State
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