Entertainment

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

Published

9 months ago

March 17, 2025

OhiBaba

233 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

Grammys to honour Fela with special merit award

The Recording Academy described Fela as the “architect of Afrobeat,” noting that the late musician is among ten people to be honoured with the special award.

Published

11 hours ago

December 20, 2025

OCHEFA

21 Views

Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti will be honoured with a special merit award at the 2026 Grammy Awards.

The organisers of the prestigious award, Recording Academy, announced this via a post on Instagram on Friday, December 19, 2025.

The Recording Academy described Fela as the “architect of Afrobeat,” noting that the late musician is among ten people to be honoured with the special award.

The academy said the Afrobeat legend will be honoured with a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award on January 31, 2026.

Entertainment

Gbenga Bada Urges NIJ Students: Embrace Passion, Professionalism in Entertainment Reporting

Published

20 hours ago

December 20, 2025

Charles Flames

38 Views

Seasoned Nigerian entertainment journalist Gbenga Bada has called on students of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) to approach entertainment reporting with unwavering passion and strict adherence to professional standards.

Speaking at a recent engagement with students at the prestigious journalism institution in Ogba, Lagos, Bada, who serves as Assistant Entertainment Editor at *The Nation* newspaper, emphasized that the dynamic field of entertainment journalism demands more than mere reporting—it requires genuine enthusiasm and ethical rigor to stand out in an increasingly competitive media landscape.

“Entertainment reporting is not just about chasing headlines or celebrity gossip,” Bada reportedly told the aspiring journalists. “It thrives on passion for the arts, culture, and stories that shape our society, combined with the professionalism that ensures accuracy, fairness, and credibility.

“Bada, known for his in-depth coverage of Nigeria’s vibrant entertainment industry—including music, film, and celebrity features—drew from his extensive experience to inspire the students.

He highlighted the importance of building strong ethical foundations amid the rise of digital media and social platforms, where misinformation can spread rapidly.

The session, part of NIJ’s ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between academia and industry practice, resonated with attendees, who praised Bada’s practical insights into navigating the challenges and opportunities in entertainment journalism.

As Nigeria’s creative sector continues to grow globally, voices like Bada’s underscore the need for a new generation of reporters equipped not only with skills but with the drive to elevate the profession.

Entertainment

Ronaldo featuring in Hollywood’s Fast & Furious film

This move marks Ronaldo’s most significant step into the film industry, aligning with his recent ambition beyond the pitch.

Published

2 days ago

December 18, 2025

OCHEFA

62 Views

Football icon Cristiano Ronaldo is officially entering the Hollywood industry, joining the star-studded cast of the upcoming ‘Fast & Furious’ finale.

The announcement was made via Instagram by the franchise’s star and producer, Vin Diesel, who stated that a role was written specifically for the Portuguese legend.

Vin Diesel posted a picture of himself with Ronaldo and revealed that the football star will be a part of the next Fast & Furious film.

On the post, Vin Diesel wrote, “Everyone asked, would he be in the Fast mythology… I gotta tell you, he is a real one. We wrote a role for him.”

Soon after, co-star Tyrese Gibson joined Vin Diesel in announcing the plans to work with Ronaldo in the movie.

Gibson posted an AI-generated picture of himself with the Fast & Furious cast, featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, on Instagram.

Gibson wrote, “Welcome to the Family! Cristiano Ronaldo. The Global Dance Just Went Into New Heights.”

This move marks Ronaldo’s most significant step into the film industry, aligning with his recent ambition beyond the pitch.

In April 2025, he announced the launch of his own film studio, UR•MARV, in partnership with acclaimed director Matthew Vaughn (Kingsman). The studio has already financed several action films.