Wife of the Senator representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Barrister Bariyaah Abe has donated wheelchairs to 60 disabled persons across the twenty-three Local Government Areas of the state.
Mrs. Abe said the donation was a plan she had conceived to mark her birthday this year as she turned 39.
She said it has always made her feel unhappy whenever she saw disable persons crawling with either hands or knees rather than using wheelchairs.
The Senator’s wife further said she had always wanted to have a day out to make them feel happy; and support them in her own small way, while thanking her husband for the support to ensure that her desire to wine and dine with some of those in that condition came to fruition.
She said, “By God’s grace I turned 39 on Thursday and this is something I have been planning to do for a very long time and I discussed it with my husband and some of my very close friends.
“I was determined that I was going to be with them this year. I want to use this opportunity to thank my darling husband, Senator Magnus Abe for supporting me to ensure that this dream of mine come true.
“I am really very grateful to God that I am able today to donate 60 wheelchairs to our friends who are disabled across the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
“I decided to bring them here to celebrate with me. To eat and drink and to receive their wheelchairs. Today was meant to be for them. It was meant to be a day of celebration for them. I wanted to ensure that they have so much to eat and drink today and that they leave here feeling fulfilled and feeling very happy.
“Anytime I see any of them crawling on the road either with hands or knees instead of walking on their legs: I feel touched and so sorry for them.
“It is my heart desire that by my next birthday I will be able to give out much more than I am giving out today to another round of disable persons across the state.
“I pray that the Almighty God will make them enjoy the use of these wheelchairs and that they will find succour and happiness as they use these wheelchairs and that these wheelchairs will take them up from the ground,” Mrs. Abe said.
On how the beneficiaries were selected, Mrs. Abe said she sent out a team to each of the twenty-three LGA’s to assist her in getting the poorest of the poor amongst the disabled people and expressed happiness that she is celebrating her birthday with them.
In his remarks, Senator Abe congratulated Bariyaah on her birthday, describing her as a very supportive wife and mother to their children.
He expressed happiness over what his wife has done, saying “she has been a pillar of support to our family and she (Bariyaah) has always done work for those who have some challenges in society. When I met her, she was working as a volunteer for special needs of children.”
“When you are going to do something you put your soul into it. Those are the things that make people successful. Mrs. Bariyaah you are going to be a very successful woman,” Senator Abe prayed.
One of the beneficiaries, 80 years old Gentleman Alabi from Ahoada East thanked Mrs. Abe for the gesture and prayed God to continue to bless her.
