A middle-aged woman, Suliat Olayiwola, on Wednesday at an Iseyin Grade “C’’ Customary Court in Oyo State sought the dissolution of her marriage to her husband, Sunday, over alleged abandonment.
Suliat told the court that her estranged husband left her and their only surviving son who is physically challenged.
“Sunday left me and our only son and ran away from the house to another woman; I have been taking care of our physically challenged son alone.
“My husband is behaving as if it was my fault that our son is physically challenged.
“I made several attempts to rescue this marriage but it takes two to tango, I am ready to let go so I can start my life all over again.
“I can’t continue to be called married woman while in reality, I don’t have a husband, please free me from this bondage,’’ she said.
The respondent, however, dismissed the allegations of his estranged wife.
“I’m always alive to my responsibilities as a father and husband.
“I have been playing the roles expected of me as a responsible man.
“ I was in the hospital with her in Ibadan for two months when we had our second child who was also born handicapped before he died.
“I got a loan from the place I work to pay the bills and take care of the boy before he died and now she said I am irresponsible because of my present economic situation.
“I think she should concentrate more on healing and delivering herself from giving birth to physically challenged children instead of seeking unnecessary dissolution of our marriage,’’ he said.
The President of the court, Adelodun Raheem, in his ruling, called on relatives of the couple to wade in and find a lasting solution to the troubled marriage.
Raheem adjourned the case till September 13 for a report on the intervention by the couple’s family members.
(NAN)