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The wife of Osun State Governor, Mrs Kafayat Oyetola, through her initiative, Ileri Oluwa Development, is facilitating the return of a stranded Nigerian man, Benjamin Sesan Ojo and his six-year-old daughter back from Trinidad and Tobago.
Ojo from Ilesa, Osun state, had been in Trinidad and Tobago for 12 years but has been jobless, homeless and sick for three years. In addition to lacking the financial means of coming back, he had reportedly lost contact with his family in Nigeria.
Reports said Mrs Oyetola’s attention was drawn to the man’s plight through a viral video that portrayed his pathetic situation.
The First Lady confirmed that the man lost his wife a year ago and became a burden on other people since he could not do anything for himself anymore.
According to the governor’s wife, the man was found to be suffering from an ailment that has caused issues for one side of his body; the veins in the side shrinking and health deteriorating.
She said that when he decided to come back home, he could not raise $10,000 required for his flight and a Nigerian passport for his daughter.
Speaking through correspondence, Nigeria’s acting High Commissioner in Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Wale Isajimi, stated that plans are underway to facilitate Ojo’s trip home at the request of Mrs Oyetola who is already making efforts to locate Ojo’s family in Ilesa.
He further stated that since the daughter had no Nigerian passport,the commission will ensure she gets a visa before they embark on the journey home, adding that because they do not have a valid United Kingdom or United States transit visa, he advised that their flight be routed through Panama, Sao Paulo, Addis Ababa to Lagos.
It was gathered that information given to the High Commission by Ojo is that his father’s name is Ojo Joseph Oluwadare and his house was along Testing Ground in Ilesa after African Grammar school.
Mrs Oyetola assured that Ojo would be rehabilitated and given adequate medical treatment so he could pick up his life and be able to care of his daughter.