A Nigerian man, Francis Ushie, has recounted the painful experience of becoming separated from his wife and four children after sponsoring their relocation to Canada, alleging that his wife blocked him and refused to disclose where the family was living.
Ushie made the disclosure during an interview shared on YouTube by The Rest of Us, where he narrated how what he expected to be a fresh start for his family eventually turned into years of separation from his wife and children.
According to him, he was married to a woman from Obulu Gunu in Delta State, but their relationship had become strained because of family issues and a disagreement he said involved an allegation of infidelity.
He said he believed moving the family to Canada would provide a better environment and possibly help improve their relationship.
Ushie said he resigned from his banking job after the family’s Canadian residency permits were approved, expecting to travel with his wife and their four children.
However, he said his former employer needed to conduct an audit of his position, which delayed his departure.
According to him, the audit lasted almost a year, forcing his wife and children to travel to Canada ahead of him.
He explained that the delay was unexpected because he had already made plans to relocate with his family.
By the time the audit was completed, his wife and children had already settled in Canada.
Ushie said he eventually travelled to Canada in November 2014, but claimed that his wife had blocked him and would not provide him with the family’s address.
He said he arrived at Calgary International Airport, commonly known by its airport code, YYC, but could not locate his wife or children.
I eventually went to Canada in 2014 November. I could not locate where my wife was staying with our children. I was stranded at the airport, YYC airport in Canada, he said.
Unable to establish contact with his family, Ushie said he eventually returned to Nigeria because he had a return ticket.
Ushie said he had continued making efforts to reconcile with his wife since 2016 but claimed that she had remained unwilling to restore their relationship.
He stressed that he was not forcing her to return to the marriage but said his major concern was maintaining contact with his children.
Since 2016 till now, I tried for us to reconcile, but she is not ready to reconcile. I am not forcing her, he said.
He further alleged that his children had also been prevented from communicating with him.
Apart from being a refugee, I have no companion for now. She has also stopped the children from communicating with me, he added.
Ushie said he was considering writing to Canadian authorities to explain the circumstances surrounding his separation from his family.
However, he made it clear that his main priority was not necessarily forcing his wife to reconcile with him but being allowed to maintain a relationship with his children.
I am considering maybe writing to the Canadian authority to let them know what happened. I am still ready to reconcile with my wife, he said.
My issue is that she should allow my children talk to me. With that I will be okay. I want to let them know I am not an irresponsible father.
Ushie also defended his role as a provider, saying he was financially responsible for relocating his wife and four children to Canada.
He said his wife was a full-time homemaker at the time and claimed that he had also paid two years’ rent for the family in Canada.
I was responsible for sending five of them to Canada, they should check the cost,” he said.
Their mother was a full housewife. Two-year rent I paid for rent there in Canada, so please, my children, I am a very responsible father.
Ushie said he remained open to reconciliation with his wife but maintained that his immediate concern was having access to his children and ensuring they understood that he had continued to care about them.
His account highlights the emotional and complicated consequences that can arise when family relationships break down after international relocation, particularly when parents become separated from their children across different countries.
The claims made by Ushie are his personal account of the events, and the report does not contain a response from his wife regarding the allegations.
