Otunba Gbenga Onayiga, a veteran journalist and Board Chairman of Citizens Advocacy for Social & Economic Rights (CASER), has kicked off a fundraiser with the sum of N250, 000 for Bravery Fund for Ejiro, the Hero.
According to Onayiga, the Fund for Ejiro, the Hero, is to encourage the public to raise money for Ejiro Otarigho, the tanker driver who saved over 10,000 lives and property worth billions of Naira.
Persecondnews recalls that he had on June 11, 2022 driven a tanker laden with petrol in Agbarho area of Delta State that caught fire in a densely populated area and moved it to the riverside to avoid disaster.
The incident which would have resulted in a national disaster was averted by Ejiro’s brave dexterity at the risk of his life.
Ejiro, who exhibited uncommon courage and selflessness by staking his life to still driving the tanker despite the possibility of an explosion.
The Brave Fund for Ejiro, the Hero, became imperative when it was reported to CASER Executive Director, Frank Tietie that Ejiro currently has four children with a pregnant wife and the tanker-driving job is their only means of survival.
The sum of N250,000 which is being used to open the Bravery Fund is in addition to the personal donation of the sum of N100,000 from Forthright Chambers, the Law Office of Frank Tietie in Abuja.
The sum has already been liquidated and handed over to Ejiro on Sunday afternoon in Agbarho, through Prince Oghenetejiri Ogegere, an air traffic controller and the President of Urhobo Progressive Youth Association.
Members of the public are, therefore, urged to contribute to the Fund through a CASER dedicated account with the following details:
Account Name: CASER
Account Number: 2026144652
Bank: First Bank
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, has commended a heroic tanker driver, Ejiro Otarigho, for averting a fire catastrophe in the state.
“The newly married driver had decided not to be selfish with his life and family concerns, but made up his mind to risk his own life to prevent a major fire accident that would have thrown the entire State into pandemonium from happening,’’ the union said a statement jointly signed by the state NUJ Chairman and Secretary respectively, Michael Ikeogwu and Patrick Ochei.
It noted that the tanker driver decided to be patriotic at a time when most Nigerians had lost hope in our dear nation.
“In a situation like this, other drivers would have abandoned the already burning truck laden with diesel on the road; and thereby causing a disaster that would have definitely affected other road users and even lives and properties within that vicinity.
“The tanker driver, Mr Otarigho, in that pathetic state of mind, made up his mind to perish in the fire until he had driven the fire-engulfed truck out of the human-populated environment to the river.’’
Author
Leave a comment