The mother of Sultan Adeleke, also known as Eniola, a physically challenged street hawker, has explained why her child disguises as a lady.
Kafayat Adeleke, in an interview with social media enthusiast, Mr. LilGaga, clarified that her child’s deformity stemmed from childbirth and has been a source of surprise to many.
According to the 40-year-old mother, Eniola has been adopting this disguise in Osogbo since 2018 despite being stopped multiple times, he continued the act.
“Sultan was never born a female; he was born with a deformity, and this was one of the reasons why I even like him.
“He always stopped me from calling him Sultan but Eniola, except that, he would desist from taking my calls.
“It was 2020 when he went to Lagos to start asking for help from people while acting as a girl to appeal to the general public to help him.”
“You can come to Osogbo to confirm; he’s the favourite among my children. I love him because it was because of him that people love me while sympathising with his physical condition. That claim is something that makes me sober when I am asked or told,” Adeleke said.
She added that Eniola, involved in makeup businesses, often absconded, and she even went with him to ensure his return, noting that he eventually ran away to Lagos, with a desire to be independent.
The mother highlighted that she had never asked him for money until recently when his story gained visibility.
“There was a day he got angry that I should stop coming with him and that he was no longer interested in staying with me again and that was how he ran to Lagos,” she said
She provided evidence of Eniola’s deformity since birth and shared his birth certificate, indicating his birth date as September 23, 2005.
Eniola, in an Instagram Live session, clarified that he is a boy and explained that dressing as a girl was a strategy to gain public support.
Recall that popular skit maker and comedian, Brain Jotter, supported Eniola in Lagos, gifting her N400,000.
The video went viral, prompting singer Davido to call on Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke for assistance.
Controversies arose as netizens debated Eniola’s gender identity and the motive behind the disguise, questioning the authenticity of the “female hawker” seeking help from the public.
