Please Forgive Me’ – Father Pleads For Reunion With Son After 18 Years Apart

According to reports, Bassey’s father, Ughelumba, has once again appealed for reconciliation with his son, two years after publicly addressing his estrangement from his children. Speaking from Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, he described himself as “dying in silence” while holding on to hope for a reunion.

Ughelumba explained that his first three sons—Elvis, Mathew, and Calvin—were born in Italy, while his youngest, Michael, was born in Ireland. The family briefly lived together in London before marital disputes led to their separation. He revealed that the conflict intensified suddenly following an argument with his wife.

“We had husband-and-wife arguments. I went to work, and before I returned, she had left with the children,” he said during a social media interview that has since drawn significant attention.

Contact between Ughelumba and his children only resumed years later when they required Nigerian passports. “She reached out in 2017 when my children needed Nigerian passports. I provided all documents and flight tickets. When they stayed with me, I never spoke ill of their mother,” he stated.

Calvin Bassey, now a Fulham defender, began his professional career at Leicester City’s youth system before moving to Rangers, where he won both the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup. In 2022, he joined Ajax for a club-record €23 million transfer, and returned to England in 2023 with Fulham for €22 million. He has also become a regular for the Nigerian national team, earning 43 caps since his debut in March 2022.

Bassey, who originally bore his father’s surname, later adopted his mother’s surname, citing her support throughout his career. He has previously stated that his father has not been a part of his life since he was six.

Ughelumba recounted multiple attempts to reconnect with his children, including a visit to Leicester City during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and travels to Côte d’Ivoire during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Despite these efforts, he has yet to regain a relationship with his son.

“As of now, I have not seen my children for a long time. I have no issues with them; it is just their mother’s actions that have caused this estrangement,” he said. Bassey has not publicly responded to his father’s appeals.