Entertainment

Otedola Bridge tanker fire: Dotun Oladipo, Publisher, The Eagle Online, Narrates his escape with wife, child, and car, but lost his mechanic

Published

11 months ago

March 17, 2025

OhiBaba

315 Views

▪︎Collage of Dotun Oladipo, Publisher, The Eagle Online, (left), and Rotimi Olaleye, the mechanic.

I write this from the point of ‘Pain’ and ‘Gratitude’.

Pain because of the death of a hardworking and honest man, Rotimi Olaleye, who was both a great father, as attested to by his children who he has been taking care of single-handedly since his wife died about five years ago, and an honest and diligent auto mechanic, as confirmed by his clients, including yours truly.

We met less than a week before his death, but he left an unforgettable impression on me, even in death. Gratitude?

I was less than 10 seconds away from where Mr. Olaleye was when the fire that took his life occurred with my wife and first child.

Let me start from the beginning. I met Mr. Olaleye on March 8, 2025, following a need to change my mechanic.

I was introduced to him by the best car air conditioning technician I had ever met, Mr. Akinola Ayeni. We drove the car together on that day.

He spotted some issues, including the fact that the former handler was as careless as not putting the knots that should be holding the connecting ABS wire to the wheel of the driver’s side, by just driving the car.

That was quickly fixed. And he told me, very honestly, that other things had to wait until Monday. That he needed to finish some other jobs. I left happily.

On Monday, I took the car to him. He appeared meticulous. Aside from the fact, that I told him that on completing the work on the Highlander, which my wife uses, I was going to send my car for servicing, he was not in a hurry to declare the vehicle fit. people behind me.

One woman came out of her car and started banging ours: “Move, move.”

She did it a second time and I wound down the back glass, addressing her and my wife who had also become agitated: “We have a man down there. Let’s see if there is still something we can do before we go too far.”

And then his line stopped ringing. My head immediately told me to call Mr. Ayeni. As soon as he picked it up, he asked me: “Have you collected your car? Rotimi has parked by the gate and is waiting for you.”

He did not even hear me saying there was trouble at the workshop until I shouted at the top of my voice.

Mr. Ayeni, who was at Agidingbi, immediately turned back. He, alongside others, discovered the remains of Mr. Olaleye, lying face down. His apprentices who were with him said as the truck crashed, he told them to flee that he needed to “save his customer’s car”.

Meanwhile, his own car was just behind mine. He succeeded in turning the car around to face the workshop. But that was as far as he made it. I cried that night. Something I have not done in several years. I wept bitterly.

In the short period I knew Mr. Olaleye, I learned a lot of lessons.

He left an impact I would never forget. But it was a pity he didn’t pick up my last call, which was to tell him to abandon the car and flee to safety.

His meticulousness on the job was second to none from what I saw in the three days of being with him. He also knew his job. Adieu Mr. Olaleye.

■ SylvaNews

Related Topics:Featured Otedola Bridge tanker fire victims

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Entertainment

Nollywood’s Mercy Johnson Becomes Governor Okpebholo’s Special Adviser

Johnson-Okojie, in her new role as special adviser on public engagement and advocacy, would deploy her vast public influence, communication expertise and grassroots reach to strengthen citizens’ engagement with government policies and programmes.

Published

4 days ago

February 20, 2026

OCHEFA

36 Views

• Mercy Johnson-Okojie

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has appointed prominent actress, Mercy Johnson-Okojie, as special adviser on public engagement and advocacy.

Johnson-Okojie was, in 2017, appointed as senior special assistant (SSA) on Entertainment, Arts and Culture to former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.

This is disclosed by Secretary to Edo State Government, Musa Ikhilor, describing Johnson-Okojie as an accomplished Nigerian actress, producer, entrepreneur and philanthropist.

“Johnson-Okojie, in her new role as special adviser on public engagement and advocacy, would deploy her vast public influence, communication expertise and grassroots reach to strengthen citizens’ engagement with government policies and programmes,” said the statement.

It said the appointment underscored Governor Okpebholo’s commitment to harnessing the expertise, credibility and public goodwill of distinguished Nigerians in advancing the administration’s vision for a prosperous and united Edo State.

Entertainment

Donald Trump: I love Nicki Minaj

In a video of the event circulating online, Trump told the audience: “How about Nicki Minaj? Do we love Nicki Minaj? I love Nicki Minaj. She was here a couple of weeks ago. She’s so beautiful, her skin’s so beautiful. I said, ‘Nikki, you’re so beautiful.’ Her nails are so long.”

Published

4 days ago

February 19, 2026

OCHEFA

42 Views

United States President Donald Trump has expressed admiration for American rapper Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, popularly known as Nicki Minaj, describing her as “so beautiful”.

Speaking at a Black History Month event in Washington, the 79-year-old president praised the 43-year-old rapper’s appearance in remarks that quickly went viral on social media.

He continued, recounting a lighthearted exchange with the rapper during her recent visit.

“I said, Nikki, are they real? She didn’t want to get into that, but she was so beautiful and so great. And she gets it, more importantly,” Trump said.

According to the president, he first took note of Minaj’s appearance when she visited the White House in recent weeks.

Trump’s remarks came shortly after Nicki Minaj marked Presidents’ Day by sharing photos referencing her growing rapport with the president.

The images, posted on her X account, carried the caption: “Happy President’s Day.”

Reports also indicate that the rapper attended the Trump-backed World Liberty Forum on Wednesday, where she participated as a keynote speaker on a panel titled “Owning the Culture: The Business of Music in a Creator-Led Economy.”

Minaj previously met Trump in January at the Trump Accounts Summit in Washington, D.C., where she stood beside him and described herself as the “president’s No. 1 fan.”

Entertainment

Nollywood Actress Aunty Ajara dies after illness

We also use this opportunity to appeal to those sending money not to send it anymore. The one we are contributing for her sake is no more. Thank you so much. We do not want you to send money into that account again.”

Published

3 weeks ago

February 5, 2026

OCHEFA

96 Views

Nollywood actress Ajara Lasisi, popularly known as Aunty Ajara, is dead.

Her death was announced this morning by Nollywood director, Tobi Oladele Teemony, also known as Tee Mony.

In a statement shared on Instagram, he said: “With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved actress, Aunty Ajara.

Aunty Ajara died overnight after a long and courageous battle with illness.

Teemony said that the dead actress received “immense love, prayers, and financial support from kind-hearted people across the world during her illness.

“We are deeply grateful to everyone who stood by her with prayers, contributions, encouragement, and compassion,” he added.

He also urged members of the public to stop sending donations to the account previously shared for her treatment, stating that financial contributions were “no longer required”.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, loved ones, and everyone grieving this painful loss,” the statement added.

Following her death, her elder brother, Ridwan Lasisi, said that the families appreciate the efforts of the Hollywood president and all industry members.

“We also use this opportunity to appeal to those sending money not to send it anymore. The one we are contributing for her sake is no more. Thank you so much. We do not want you to send money into that account again.”