Oshiomhole receives Stowaway teenager. Father surfaces . ANEEJ lauds SSS Governor Adams Oshiomhole has received the stowaway teenage boy, Ricky Daniel Oikhena under tight security, yesterday in Government House, Benin City. Daniel Oikena in the convoy of the State Security Service (SSS) led by the State Director, Mr. Bello Bakore was released weekend by officials of Lagos State Security Services to Edo State Director of SSS. Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in conjunction with the Director of SSS, Mr. Bakore and the mother of the boy, Mrs. Evelyn Oikhena met behind closed doors, probably to ascertain circumstances surrounding Daniel’s adventure. The outcome of the meeting could not be ascertained as at press time. Speaking with journalists, Daniel’s father, Mr. Osaigbovo Oikhena who surfaced for the first time since the saga yesterday said he was in Government House to find out whether the son was alive. He expressed thanks to Almighty God for protecting the life of his son, adding that he was disturbed when he first heard that his son was nowhere to be found. He added that though they were separated, he was still responsible for the upkeep of the children who, according to him were “three boys and one girl in school and still feeding them”. Speaking with journalists at Government House in Benin City yesterday, Mr. Oikhena, 44 said he is a driver by profession, that he was not sick contrary to rumours in some quarters, rather he was living separately from the family due to some misunderstanding he had with his wife. “I came to tell the world that I am the father of Daniel. Initially, when I heard of the news, I thought my son was kidnapped. But my wife said I should calm down that when everything is okay, she will call me”, said Mr. Oikhena. The father of the stowaway boy who refused to disclose the cause of his quarrel with his wife, stated that he moved out of the house, a year ago when he could no longer cope with his rent and had to move to a different apartment that he can afford. I never dreamt of going to America, I am not married to another woman. My wife refused to give the SSS when they asked for my number. Arising from my loss of job, I decided to move to a new apartment that I can afford and told my wife that they should move with me, but she refused and continued to stay in the three bedroom flat at Ehigiagbe, off Goodwill, Ekenwan Benin City. The man who said he resides at 66 Ayo-Bello Street, Off Siluko Road, Egor, insists “I used to pay the school fees of my children and send feeding money regularly to them contrary to claims that I abandoned my family. It was when I packed to the present place I am staying that my wife refused to go with me”. The man disclosed that he came to Government House on the invitation of his wife, adds that they were not divorced. He thanked God that the son is alive, adding that since the incident occurred, he has been following the trend of development. He said that even when people asked the wife of his contact, she always deny them access. Meanwhile, De RAUFs, a volunteer group which had indicated interest in the welfare of Daniel was at Government House, Benin City. Represented by Yinka Muyiwa, head of legal team, De RAUFs said it came to Edo State to reaffirm the scholarship it earlier gave the little boy to continue his education up to university level. According to Muyiwa who spoke to journalists, “the boy did not commit any offence and as such should not be detained any longer”. He said, “ the boy had to do what he did because the system failed him. There was no crime involved in what he did as far as we are concerned”. The African network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ has commended the Department of State Security for the release of the 13years old stowaway teenage boy, Daniel Ohikhena to the Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. According to the release signed by the Executive Director ANEEJ, Reverend David Ugolor and made available to newsmen in Benin City on Tuesday, ANEEJ said Daniel Ohikhena’s ability to beat the airport security networks exposes the poor state of the nation aviation sector. ANEEJ said it is sad that some of the nation’s airports are still in dire need of proper perimeter fencing, patrol vehicles that would have prevented Daniel Ohikhena from gaining access into the airport despite yearly budgeting for airport security in the country. From what we have gathered so far, Daniel Ohikhena’s ability to beat all the airport security networks exposes the poor state of our aviation sector. Despite yearly budgeting; it is sad that some of our airports are still in dire need of proper perimeter fencing, security patrol vehicles that would have prevented Daniel Ohikhena from gaining access into the air plane wheel compartment well”, ANEEJ said. According to ANEEJ, President Goodluck Jonathan should see the stowaway incident as a challenge to his transformation agenda in the aviation sector and commended the men and officers of DSS for the sense of maturity in the way they handled the issue. ANEEJ however called on the Federal Government to take immediate steps to ensure that the nation’s airports are well secured so as to avoid future occurrence. Meanwhile, another boy found in the Benin Airport who attempted stowaway barely two weeks of Daniel Ohikhena stowaway report has been handed over to security agents for questioning. Reacting to this new development, some passengers at the Benin Airport attributed the reoccurrence to security lapses at some of the airports in the country and the level of poverty among the people. Efforts to speak with the Public Affairs Manager of Federal Airport Authority (FAAN), Benin City failed as she was said to be out on official assignment. .
Posted on: Thu, 05 Sep 2013 00:06:54 +0000
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