I want my burnt tanker replaced, not national honour, says man who saved community from fire disaster – Newstrends
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I want my burnt tanker replaced, not national honour, says man who saved community from fire disaster

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2 years ago

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Ejiro Otarigho, a driver who drove a burning fuel tanker away from a community in Delta State, says he needs a new vehicle.

He was reacting to the recommendation by the Senate that President Muhammadu Buhari should confer him with a “befitting national honour as he may deem fit for his extraordinary act of bravery, courage and skill that prevented the loss of human lives and property on a massive scale”.

Otarigho last week drove his tanker which caught fire at a residential area to a river bank.

His action and bravery earned him commendations from Nigerians, including the Federal Road Safety Corps.

The Senate resolved to honour him and asked Buhari to offer him a national award.

But speaking in an interview with The Punch, Otarigho said the thought of hundreds of lives and property engulfing in fire gave him the courage to drive the truck to a location where there would be no disaster.

The 46-year-old man said he started the job of tanker driving about 12 years ago.

He said although he had received a commendation from the Delta State Government, he would prefer to have his tanker replaced rather than get a national honour.

He said, “I have received calls from them (Delta State Government) but I am not interested in any national honour of any sort right now.

“I know God has brought me to a good place where my story is now being told. All I want is a replacement for my burnt tanker so I can go back to my job.

“I have just been at home and truck driving was the only way I fed. It has not been easy for me since I lost my tanker.”

Asked if he would like to get a new job and abandon the dangerous business of tanker driving, he said, “of course, I will. It is a risky job. Imagine if I had died that day, nothing would have been said of me. If the government has something better for me, I will do it without looking back. All I want is to be able to take care of myself and my family legitimately.”

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Biafra Day: IPoB warns UNIZIK, WAEC to postpone convocation, exam

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May 21, 2024

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Biafra Day: IPoB warns UNIZIK, WAEC to postpone convocation, exam

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, has warned the Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK Awka, Anambra State Prof. Charles Esimone, and West African Examination Council, WAEC to postpone the convocation ceremony of the University and WAEC exam scheduled for May 30th.

IPoB, in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, entitled “Nnamdi Azikiwe University VC and WAEC Board to postpone 30th May Convocation and WAEC on that day,” said Prof. Esimone ought to know that 30th of May every year is Biafra Heroes Day and should not fix any programs of his University on that day, just as WAEC should have known that that day is sacrosanct to all Igbo men and women.

IPoB’s statement reads, “Dear Professor Charles Okechukwu Esimone Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, UNIZIK Anambra State. The attention of the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, led by our indomitable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been drawn to your proposed University’s Convocation date of 30th May, 2024 and the WAEC examinations for the same day.

“We urge you to kindly reschedule your convocation and exams to a new date because 30th of May, is the Biafra Heroes Day and a sit-at-home for all Biafrans in the Biafra land.

“Dear VC Esimone, if you consider yourself a Biafra, you ought to know that 30th of May is a Biafra Heroes day. And WAEC board members, Biafra Heroes day is sacrosanct to Ndigbo, you dare not fix your exam on that day if you have respect for Igbo race.

“Nevertheless, we are reminding you and the UNIZIK University Management and WAEC board that May 30 of every year is a sacred day set aside to honour Biafra heroes and heroines who paid the ultimate prize and sacrifice for the survival of Biafrans.

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“That day remains sacred and a day that Biafrans sit-at-home to remember and honour our heroes who fell during the Nigerian genocidal war against Biafrans between 1967 to 1970.

“Even until the present day the killing has not stopped. No public event is expected to take place in Biafra land on this day. Biafra Heroes day is a public holiday and a sit-at-home in Biafra land for Biafrans in honor of our fallen heroes and heroines. All markets, schools, banks, government and private offices are expected to be under lock and key.

“Movement of persons and vehicles are not allowed except those on essential or emergency services such as Journalists, health workers, Ambulance, Fire Service, Filling stations and Hospitals etc.

“West African examination Council, WAEC, board should not endanger the lives of small children because that day is not safe for any individual in Biafra territory, it is a day everybody stays indoors for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for us to live and they must reschedule the date to another day. 30th of May is a Biafran remembrance day.

“If anything happens to those children they want to bring out that day they will regret doing so. By this open letter, to you IPoB is calling on the Vice Chancellor and the Management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, Awka, WAEC and any other person or group that scheduled any program for 30th May, 2024, to postpone such program. Biafra Heroes Day takes precedence over any program in Biafra land on that day.

“However, if the Vice Chancellor and the Management of UNIZIK insist on having their Convocation on 30th May, 2024 in disregard of Biafra fallen heroes and heroines, they have decided to spit on the graves of Biafra heroes and heroines and should be ready to take responsibility for whatever happens afterwards.

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“IPoB will not enforce the 30th May sit-at-home, but will also not take responsibility for whatever happens to the violators on that day. The Management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University must not provoke IPoB.

“We do not take it kindly with people desecrating the memory of our heroes and heroines. IPOB calls on the students, the parents, the guests, and visitors to UNIZIK’s Convocation ceremony and those for WAEC exams scheduled for May 30th to apply caution and avoid being on the road the day Biafrans are mourning their dead.

“If the University goes ahead with the plans. Safety is an individual responsibility. Don’t endanger yourself for an hour-long ceremony. In the past, Nigeria security forces and their collaborators have killed and set some cars of those found on the road ablaze any time IPoB calls for sit-at-home, just to blackmail IPoB. Don’t be a victim.

“IPoB is therefore, warning all the persons and institutions paid to insult and desecrate the memories of our fallen heroes that their sponsors will not be there to save them when the rain starts falling on them.

“Those that have sabotaged their stock in trade will be collectively and individually held to account for their evil.

“IPOB is not a Umunna meeting or community meeting to be toyed with. As much as we care we also bite. UNIZIK Management and WAEC board should be warned.”

Biafra Day: IPoB warns UNIZIK, WAEC to postpone convocation, exam

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Popular pastor kicks wife, 6 children out of Abuja home

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2 hours ago

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May 21, 2024

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Pastor Stanley Ogbonna and his estranged wife, Chioma

Popular pastor kicks wife, 6 children out of Abuja home

In a shocking development, Pastor Stanley Ogbonna, General Overseer of God’s Spring Assembly, also known as Glass Church in Kubwa, Abuja, has allegedly driven his estranged wife, Chioma, and their six children out of their home.

The couple’s strained relationship recently culminated in a divorce, marked by serious accusations and public outcry.

Reports indicate that Pastor Ogbonna purportedly sold his properties to prevent Chioma from obtaining a share of his wealth, a claim he presented in court. This situation escalated on Tuesday when a viral video surfaced on social media, showing Chioma accusing the pastor of infidelity and domestic abuse. She described her 18 to 19 years of hardship living with him, during which she bore six children.

In the emotionally charged video, Chioma expressed her despair: “See him, God will help me. This is a pastor. Look at him. This is the pastor, Stanley Ogbonna. He called the police and evicted me and the children out of the house. Look at me, look at my properties all outside unannounced.”

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Chioma recounted how Pastor Ogbonna had already moved his belongings out of the house while engaging in extramarital affairs. “Today, he has come to disgrace me after laboring with him for 18 years, 19 years. See what the General Overseer of God’s Wing Assembly, Glass Church, Kubwa, is doing. I’m his wife, who labored with him for 19 years,” she added.

She pleaded for justice, emphasizing the suffering she endured and the impact on their youngest child, who is only four years old.

Attempts to reach Pastor Ogbonna and the church for comments were unsuccessful. The church’s inquiry line was unreachable, and emails sent to their official address had not been replied to at the time of this report.

Despite the ongoing controversy, the church recently celebrated Pastor Ogbonna’s birthday on April 18 with a program titled “Happy Birthday in Perfect Grace.”

This incident has sparked widespread reactions and calls for justice for Chioma and her children, highlighting the need for accountability and support in such distressing circumstances.

Popular pastor kicks wife, 6 children out of Abuja home

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Generator fumes kill seven people in Bayelsa

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2 hours ago

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May 21, 2024

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Generator fumes kill seven people in Bayelsa

Tragedy struck, in the early hours of Tuesday, at the Amarata suburb of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital as seven persons lost their lives after inhaling fumes from power generating set (generator) placed inside a music studio.

The incident, occured along Transformer Road, Amarata in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

According to some residents, the deceased were working in the recording studio, owned by one of them, identified as Akpos Barakubo.

They were said to have worked late into the night on Monday using a generator due to the poor power supply situation in the state and may have slept off leaving the generator running in the studio lacking Ng proper ventilation.

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It was learned that six of the victims were discovered dead Tuesday morning while one who was unconscious was rushed to the hospital but later gave up the ghost.

Some of the victims were said to be students of the Niger Delta University (NDU), who are into the recording business to help themselves in school.

Security operatives had condoned off the area as at press time with the corpses evacuated and deposited at the morgue.

A resident, simply identified as Damion blamed the tragic incident on the poor power supply situation in the state.

He said: “If there was public power supply maybe these people wouldn’t have lost their lives in this circumstances.

“Seven able-bodied young men just died like that because of the failure of government. The most annoying thing is that tomorrow, the PHED personnel will come with ladder to disconnect light that they are not supplying. How can people be spending their money in fueling generators despite the current hardship in Nigeria, even after paying for light bills?

Attempt to get the reaction of the Spokesman of the state police command, ASP Musa Muhammed, proved abortive as his mobile phone line was not going through.

Generator fumes kill seven people in Bayelsa

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