When I placed the Renewed Hope Agenda before Nigerians, I did not speak of housing in vague terms. I gave my word that this administration would work to make decent homes affordable again, and that a hardworking family, after years of paying rent, would finally have a path to a house of its own.
Let me account for that promise plainly, by juxtaposing what we pledged beside what we have actually achieved.
1/
Balikisu should be around 12-13 years (you never can tell their age by their physique because they are usually malnourished) in 2021 when she used to pass my shop, greet me and shyly look inside like someone who couldn't wait to come inside.
One day my former landlady, whom I still maintained a good relationship with came for a visit and told me about how Biliksu's mother, who worked in her house as a domestic staff , married to our neighbour's gate man had asked her to please talk to me about taking Balikisu for apprenticeship, this woman offered to bear all the cost of training her bit I declined and offered to train her for free.
She was to start the following Monday with nothing except her humble self. This girl didn't show up, I became worried as I had completely stopped seeing her shy face around, when I enquired about her from my ex landlady.
She said in the lowest I have heard " her father said there was no need for her to start anything as she would soon be married 🥺"
I had palpitations all night thinking about the man that will have conjugals with a girl so young, she has almost nothing to attract a man except for her pretty face.
A few months later, I heard she had been married off and she was to be shipped to their home state in Borno.
Fast forward to 2024, I saw her again, he mother had being diagnosed with cancer of the breast and I assumed she was back to care for her, she approached me again by herself, she still wanted to learn but unfortunately we had moved from the area to a bigger space and she couldn't afford transport.
I was later to hear that she was divorced by her husband because she had VVF since the birth of her second child
Poor girl birthed 2kids before 15 in a space of 2years marriage.
We are not even angry enough for the things they subject these small children to.
God will judge all of you for hiding under religion to destroy the lives of innocent children.
Calamity will not befall you.
All your positive expectations will come true.
You will achieve all your goals.
Your days of crying and hopelessness will soon become a distant memory.