The story of a tanker driver who single handedly saved his community from a burning truck laden with fuel (explosive) hit the media space last week, but the last has not been had of the story.
Ejiro Otarigho, from Delta State have been in the business of tanker driving for over 12 years, and have survived from the proceeds of the business to care of himself and his family.
In the incident that happened last week, the 46 year old truck driver while driving his fuel filled truck in the same community where he lives discovered that his truck has cut fire and was at the risk of immediate explosion, which could kill many people in the residential community.
Ejiro quickly pushed his conductor out of the burning vehicle and drove it all by himself as far away from the community in Delta state as he could, ensuring the truck was far from harming others before abandoning it to explode by a river bank.
When his story broke last week, Mr Otarigho`s act of bravery immediately earned him nationwide fame and commendations. The Nigerian Senate also resolved to honour him and requested President Muhammadu Buhari to confer on Ejiro 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”.
However, in a in an interview with The Punch, Mr Otarigho said that in preference to a national honour, he would want a replacement of his burnt truck to enable him continue on the job he has known for 12 years.
When asked if he will like an opportunity to do something better, other than continuing to engage in a risky job of truck driving, he said yes that all he wants “is to be able to take care of myself and my family legitimately,”
NOTABLE QUOTES
“I have received calls from them (Delta state government) but I am not interested in any national honour of any sort right now,” he said.
“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,” he said.
