Usman : The physically challenged who cuts firewood to feed blind parents

USMAN Abubakar  Garba lives in Barnawa area of Kaduna metropolis. The 32 year old has one arm  but inspite of his condition, he is determined to make ends meet. He told the Nigerian Tribune   that begging for alms as it is the  common practice with the physically challenged  in the Northern  Nigeria was the last thing he would do.

With one arm, Usman can simply be described as the breadwinner of the house.  He has two younger sisters who are  all happily married and they are staying with their husbands and a brother who is mentally retarded. Findings by the Nigerian Tribune  also revealed that  his two parents who are living with him are both blind. Nonetheless, this does not deter him from fending for his parents and his younger brother. According to him, ‘I  made up my mind never to beg.

Narrating, how he lost his arm, he told the Nigerian Tribune that he was involved in an accident at the age of seven where he broke his arm but because  his parents could not afford to pay for the hospital bill, the arm became  infected and  hospital advised that the arm should be removed if not the infection would spread to the other parts of the body. ‘That was how I lost my arm,” he declared.

‘When I was growing up ,I told myself that I would never allow my predicament to prevent me from achieving my goals.  I was never discouraged.  I try to do things alone without any assistance. I am determined to succeed.

‘ Now with my blind parents still alive, I have to fend for them. I told them since they have me I will go and look for work in order to feed them.

‘Honestly, my parents are at home.  They dont go out to beg . When I returned from  work, I cook what we are going to eat.

Commenting on what he do for living, he said, ‘ I cut firewood for living.  In this part of the world people buy heap of firewood and they will ask me to cut the firewood for them into different sizes. I will do that for a fee.

‘So as you can see, my axe  is my life . I use it to get food for my family.

He described himself as a comfortable man ,saying, ‘God has been merciful to him.

Findings by Arewa revealed that Usman  also settles  the rent of their  apartment.

I am comfortable. I cook for my blind parents and mentally retarded brother. I wash their clothes  and if they are sick, I went to chemist to pay drugs, he said.