People believe Oshiomhole gave me N50m — Mother of stowaway teenager

Evelyn Ohikhena is the mother of the stowaway boy, Daniel, who hid in the wheels compartment of a Lagos-bound plane belonging to Arik Air from Benin City last year. In this interview with JAMES AZANIA, she narrates the ordeal of the family after her son’s uncommon adventure

 What is the situation now after your son hid in the wheels compartment of a Lagos-bound plane from Benin City last year?

The Edo State Government enrolled him in Edo College. The government put him in a boarding school. After his enrolment in a boarding school, the state Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, promised that he would assist me because my shop got burnt before the incident. Because I was managing the little resources I had
then,

I withdrew him from a private
school and enrolled him in a public
school; Ogbe Secondary School. I promised him that when I got a new shop, I would return him to a private school. It was not long after that he hid in the plane going to Lagos.  I was very sad about the development.

When did the governor promise to assist you?      

It was in September, last year. He ensured that Daniel was put in a boarding school and paid all the necessary fees. Since then, I have been going there (Government House). I am not the kind of woman that enjoys staying at home and not doing anything. There were times I kept going to the Government House because the governor told me to tell the Chief of Staff (Mr. Patrick Obahiagbon) to remind him about his promise. But when I kept going there, it turned to a case of come today, come tomorrow. I later stopped going there when I got tired.

Who kept giving you promises  whenever you went to the Government House; the governor or the COS?

I saw the Chief of Staff most of the times I was at the Government House. Whenever I saw him on those occasions, he would tell me to come the next day. Some time, I would go, sometimes I would not. But sometimes, he was not around.

Are you saying the COS prevented you from seeing the governor?

There was a day he allowed me to see him. When I saw him, they told me to wait. During that time, my son was not around. We once waited for 24 hours and they didn’t call us. I was then told to come the next day.

It happened three times like that and I didn’t see him. The government has not done anything for me but people thought it has. Wherever people see me, they usually say, ‘See the mother of that boy Daniel, Governor Oshiomhole gave her N50m.’ The people include my own family members and many of my friends. The funny thing is that when I go to them, they say I am denying that the governor has given me money. They always say the governor has ‘settled’ me. I tell them that it is not true. But they don’t believe me.

Do you think the governor’s promise has shut other doors against you?

Yes. That is exactly what has happened. It has blocked other things. Look at my situation now, I was staying with somebody with my kids. Sometimes it is difficult to go and see Daniel in school. He often calls me to tell me what he needs. Whenever he calls me, I will be looking for money to buy the things he needs. I also go to the governor’s office to meet a lady I was told to see anytime Daniel needs anything. Sometimes, she will give me and other times, she will be wondering whether I want to use the money for another thing.

How much did the governor give you?

The governor has not given me any money.

What about your boy?

He has not been given any money. It is only the enrolment in school. But by next term, the government has promised to pay his school fees again.

Is that the arrangement?          

Yes, that is the arrangement. In fact, I am waiting for the bank draft because without it he cannot go to school.

Did the governor actually promise to give you work or help you find a job?                                                      

The governor only promised he would help me. He said he would give me money for my business. But when I kept going to the place, I implored them that even if they cannot give me money, they could give me a job. I said I would not mind. I have to start from somewhere. I will appreciate anything they know they can do to assist me so that I can raise my other children.

Last week, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party , Mr. Dan Orbih, spoke about you. What is your link with the PDP?

Some people called me one day. I was not feeling healthy that day. He (Orbih) sent for me and he was the one that took me to the hospital. He took me to a private hospital behind Ogbe Stadium. He bought me some drugs and gave me some money for Daniel to celebrate Christmas. He made me happy because the condition that took me to the hospital didn’t even allow me to talk. If not for the man that day, I don’t even know where I would be today.

Where is Daniel now?

He is inside the room (pointing).

Where are his other siblings?

They are around too: Four children; three boys and one girl.

Who does the family stay with now?

The house rent has expired. I am no longer with my mother. She now lives in my sister’s own house.  The place cannot accommodate us all. They therefore asked us to look for our own apartment. Since then, I have been looking for money to rent a new house.

How much is your rent in a year?

It is N200,000, but I don’t want to stay here any longer. I am looking for another place because this place has embarrassed us. My son told me that it was when I put him in Ogbe Secondary School that he got to know the way to the airport. They (children) don’t go outside; they don’t have friends. He (Daniel) said he knew the route to the airport because the school is close to it.

What change have you noticed in his attitude after the incident?

What I have noticed in him now is that he is worried.  He  told me that he was unhappy and that was why he decided to hide inside the wheels of the plane thinking it was going to the US. He said he later realised that what he did was not good.  He didn’t even know that it was risky and that he could die. But he was surprised with
the way people were promising to help me after the development.  That is what he is worried about. I know he is not happy at all. We are moving on. He is also encouraged that I am a bit alright now. I know that is making him happy, but he is worried about the way we are moving from one place to the other.

How do you view the Oshiomhole government considering its response to your son’s case?

I thank them. I really appreciate the governor especially for the scholarship he gave to Daniel. But I think he should have fulfilled the promise he made to me. I am not a wasteful woman and would have used any money he gave me to sort my family out. I am not sure I will still be suffering this way if he has fulfilled his promise to me.  There is nothing I do now that people will not comment on. All eyes are on me. It is so hard to the extent that people keep saying Governor Oshiomhole has given me money. Wherever I go to borrow money, nobody  answers me.  People that I owed before my son did what he did have continued coming to ask for their money, saying after all the governor gave me some good money. They think I have the money hidden somewhere. I am even afraid so that they don’t kidnap me or my son.

What business do you do?

I run a saloon, I also sell cosmetics.

Did you receive any assistance from Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola?

I have not heard from anyone in Osun State Government. There is a lawyer, Barrister Muyiwa. I don’t know his full name. He told me he came from Osun State. He has also offered some assistance to us. The man really tried for me and my son

What form of assistance did he offer?

Sometimes when I complain to him that we are in need of money, he always sends us some to manage with.

Where do you think the money comes from; him or the Osun governor?

I think it is from him. It is from his own pocket.