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Nigerian singer, Joy Eseoghene Odiete a.k.a Jodie, has penned down an open letter to Nigerians as she laments the challenges of raising a child with special needs in Nigeria.
In the letter, the ‘Kuchi Kuchi’ crooner noted that her son’s medical condition, known as cerebral palsy, has drained her finances.
According to her, she has been advised by her friends to kill her son because she keeps borrowing money to carter for his welfare.
Noting that her son’s condition was caused by the hospital where she gave birth to him, Jodie revealed that she now has to do all sorts of jobs to provide for the young child.
“My finances have been swallowed. My friends have abandoned me because I’m a beggar. My debts are new every morning.
“My head is heavy. My eyes hurt, because I cry every night. Don’t wait for singer of Kuchi Kuchi to die first before you do a memorial service while her child is left to suffer. Do not spend a dime when I’m dead. Do all you can about it now while I’m alive. I beg you Nigerians.” She said.
Her full post.on Instagram reads…
“AN OPEN LETTER (Pardon) This message is not for the Kings, Queens or Men and Women of substance of Nigeria. This message is for the sons, daughters, servants, security agents, concubines….ANYBODY whom the Kings and Queens have a soft spot for their opinions.
“I would have paid a media crew, to make a compelling and attractive video, but, please forgive me… I cannot afford it now.
“I am not a lazy person. I sang a song, Kuchi Kuchi in 2010, which Kings and Queens have listened to and enjoyed. I am using the soft spot that song may have created to make this appeal.
“In the past 6 years, I have hawked beaded jewellery in offices like Total, Noah’s Ark, DDB etc., I have sold hair care products. I have begged. I have borrowed. Nigerians are kind. Even Bellanaija has sent me 100k… I have been a beneficiary of Air Peace’s Thursday session with the Chairman as a social responsibility to help the less privileged – SEVERAL TIMES. The truth is, I am a NOBODY, but I was inspired, years ago to sing a song even when I didn’t know myself – a song that still resonates till date. Who knows? Maybe the essence of Kuchi Kuchi was not for my popularity, but to respond to the silent cries of mothers who gave birth to special needs children.
“Maybe its essence was to speak for the blood of the special needs children that has been spilled IN SECRET by helpless mothers who did not know what else to do. I know this, because some strangers have advised me to kill or abandon my son, because such children are sent to swallow up finances.
XMy finances have been swallowed. My friends have abandoned me, because I am a beggar. My debts are new every morning, But I am a mother who would rather DIE first before her son does not eat.
“Special needs children do not eat normal food. Special needs children need a lot of medical, emotional, etc care. Special Needs children require the help of well established world-class organisations, because it is not their fault that they were born that way.
“In my case, the hospital I delivered my son had a hand in it. I blame myself for not going to a general hospital. It is past. There is nothing I can do about it now.”
