Wife of the governor of Delta state, Dame Edith Okowa, has said that Nigerians should treat maids, orphans and the less privileged as their children just as she said the provision parents make for their children should also be extended to this class of people living with them.
Okowa’s wife said the status anybody has in society does not give one the right to maltreat anyone who is in the lower cadre of society.
The governor’s wife spoke on Monday while presenting food items comprising rice, oil, toileteries, tubers of yam and others to 48 orphanages and four adopted families during the world orphan day celebration at the government house.
Mrs. Okowa said the event is an annual event set aside by the United Nations to celebrate orphaned children and give them a sense of belonging in a self centered society.
She said: “On this day, attention is drawn to the plight of the world’s orphans and people are encouraged to actively participate in raising awareness, support the cause and help them emotionally.”
The governor’s wife lamented the ordeals orphaned children go through in a bid to find their bearing in life and called for a concerted effort from caring and privileged Nigerians to come to their aids.
She decried stories of woes children go through saying: “we hear and read stories everyday of how supposed mothers place hot iron on the laps of a little orphaned child because of an error committed.”
She added: “These are things we cannot do to our children. We have seen things the mouth cannot say, what women do to children. Ask yourself how you have been treating people attached to you. None of us will live for ever. If you treat other children roughly, you will pay for it.”
She said everyone will give account of how they spend on earth the position they occupy at one time or the other, noting that the position she holds as Delta first lady, she holds it in trust and she must give account of how she utilised it.
She commended organizations that have consistently partnered with 05 Initiative to bless the lives of orphans in the state. She paid particular recognition to Zenith Bank for always being with her.
