Ejiro Otarigho, a driver who drove a burning fuel tanker
away from a community in Delta state, says he needs a new vehicle.
Otarigho, had 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 senate which has resolved to honour him.
The upper legislative chamber had also asked President
Muhammadu Buhari to to confer Otarigho 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”.
Speaking in an interview with The Punch, Otarigho said the
thought of hundreds of lives and property engulfing in flames as a result of
the tanker fire gave him the spunk to drive the truck to a location where there
will be no disaster.
The 46-year-old who started the risky job of tanker driving
about 12 years ago, said though he had received a commendation from the Delta
state government, he would prefer to have his tanker replaced rather than get a
national honour.
“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.
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