In this chat, Pastor Solomon Folorunsho, founder of the Home for the Needy, which accommodates and caters for internally displaced persons(IDPs) situated in Uhogua, Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, spoke at length on a wide range of issues.
On the academic achievements of his wards
First I want to thank God for keeping us through crisis that was always coming – hunger, lack of funds, fees etc. I also thank everyone who stood with us through all these turbulent times. Persons who believe in us; persons who felt that this work that we are doing is worth it. Lets carry on.
For me I am feeling satisfied. This is all I wanted to do. I dont want to see people who can become something very great, that would be useful to the world, because of lack of opportunity they have been wasted. Everybody at the end suffers for it. So, I am highly elated. I am happy. I am satisfied. I am celebrating. Satisfied to see the result now but not satisfied to see the much still left behind to do.
On the awards that he has been honoured with.
Yes, awards have been coming. The award I got from Leadership Newspaper was the first and we said lets accept this one. When it was done I saw how it inspired the children more. That’s why I said okay let me go and accept this one(the second award). The purpose of accepting the award is to inspire the children. To make them know that what we’re doing persons are recognising it and when you take it serious one day it becomes something and the world will also see you and know that you were once down and now you’re up. I went to pick that award to appreciate the children and to appreciate all our supporters. As for me, I am not working to get award. I am working to get reward from God. When you work for God he will surely bless you. That’s my ultimate. It’s an encouraging one indeed.
On one of his wards who is currently on scholarship studying in the USA
Infact, when that thing happened the first thing was that the whole centre(Camp) was dancing, jubilation etc. We saw the awards he got in the school(Edo State University). The governor(Mr. Godwin Obaseki) was there. I am sure the governor himself was surprised. If he had supported them they would have done more than that.
From then the few among us who were not serious with their education became very serious. They’re all aiming at first class. They want to be the best in the fields they have chosen. It was a great joy for me and it was a relief also in helping us. There are things you say people don’t see but when they see it it can speak thousands of words more than what you will tell them. I was the one that took him to the US. Took him to the school.
The reason I did that was this – this is someone who was in the village and terrorists came. He fled from there to different places and finally got here. From here he went to the university. From the university back here. He has not seen other culture like I have seen. He has not seen Europe he has not seen America. So, if you just throw only him there I felt there was going to be a lot of shock. So, I had to go with him and explain to him “this is how they do things here.” The difference between Nigeria and US etc. After taking him through that orientation a few days I left him. He is doing very well and we are hoping soon to give more. A lot are coming out of this centre that will shock the world.
On the number of his wards in higher institutions
I dont know now because even as at yesterday some got admission. I don’t know the right figure. They are more than 300 at the moment. And many more want to go in.
On payment of the children’s school fees
That’s the challenge we have now. Some schools were a bit lenient with us but because of the situation in the country it is hard. Some of them are beginning to not let our children write exams. Like in one of the universities we have not been able to pay hostel fees and for that reason don’t reside in the hostel. Now they’re sleeping at the security gate from there they’re going to class. I told them that it’s going to be part of their beautiful story.
That’s the challenge we are facing now. We desperately need funding for education. We need scholarship. We need people to donate to pay their school fees etc. The whole thing is in the public domain. These children’s fees need to be paid – their hostel accommodation, feeding, books, tuition fees etc.
Do you get support from the government of their state of origin?
A lot of people don’t know that from the era of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as the state governor uptil now we have reintegrated and reunited about 7,000 persons. There was a time we were working with the Red Cross on this. There were others we did by ourselves. Most of them are in different families and communities. Most of those that are here are orphans and widows.
Having said that, the governments of the states where they came from despite the publicity, achievements etc we have not had any support from them. There was even a time we wrote to some of them they didn’t pay attention. I don’t know what we should do. I want to appeal to their conscience that these people are their people that we’re helping. These doctors, lawyers, nurses, engineers etc. One of them just graduated from ABU where he read Communication Engineering. He was the best in his department. He got first class. He just finished his project and is about returning to Uhogua.
They’re coming to build your society. Why don’t you just look this way and put religion and other sentiments aside. So, we’re appealing to those government. We need their support.
On his assessment of the emergence of Governor Monday Okpebholo and what the camp benefitted from the Godwin Obaseki administration
The coming of the new governor is a breathe of fresh air. Edo needs a breathe of fresh air. Edo has been like a state under siege for eight years. We suffered so much. Infact, the story of all that happened is terrible. They’re all well documented for the future. The children, thank God they’re becoming lawyers, doctors, engineers etc. They bore the brunt of misgovernance. They will be able to, one day soon, stand and speak for themselves. That’s for the past.
For the present government, we have hope. Lets for instance, take the deputy governor, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, before he even became a candidate. (Pointing) You see that transformer, you see this solar light those are his handwork.
Every time he comes here he gives the children note books, he gives them writing materials, he plays with the children. Even the governor(Monday Okpebholo) though he has not come here he has sent things to us. If you can do this when you are not in government. We have hope. I pray that he should not make the mistake that others made. He should take after people like Governor Oshiomhole who was there for everybody. Who built a secondary school here that these children are graduating from. I pray he will take after those ones and not the ones that were fighting the citizens.
Update on the children that were injured in the course of the election into the state House of Assembly last year.
Till today, especially two girls are still deformed. Any time I see those children… One of them, who is a graduate, from University of Benin, her collar bone was broken. Till today she still wears something inside her cloth to hold her collar bone together. She’s in pain. Do you know that the former government whose agent did this thing… We got all the report sent it to the DSS(Directorate of State Services), the Police. They even arrested the persons that were involved.
Everybody knew them. The government agent went there and bailed them. They never came here to even emphatize, symphatise or to feel sorry for what they did. That was why in this election(governorship) when they were saying rigging etc I was laughing. That’s what we are used to hearing in every election. Like in the last Edo State local government election, they(EDSIEC – Edo State Independent Electoral Commission officials) did not come here (Uhogua) but the result was declared. Democracy is where people have to be able to express themselves.
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