The richest black man and Africa’s exceedingly rich man, multi-billionaire entrepreneur, Alhaji Aliko Dangote GCON, is a man to be admired for a myriad of reasons. He’s a trailblazer, pacesetter, conqueror, and achiever. His is an inspiring story. And despite the humongous wealth and intimidating achievement, he remains modest, meek and rather reserved.
Dangote has turned packaging to a goldmine, and literally dug up gold from his quarries, just a fraction of the business. The man who struck gold in manufacturing, Oil & Gas and Cement production, has yet struck gold. This time, not he, but his employees; they struck Funke Gold, twice!
According to reports, Funke Gold, a performing musician, was on her way to Ifo, Ogun State driving to honour a performance engagement when her car was hit by one of the now notorious Dangote trailers twice, and sent flying across the road like a ragdoll, definitely no match for a 40-ton 18-wheeler!
In the car with Funke were members of her crew, all injured with her, and helpless. Those in the vicinity were quick to help, reaching the victims before death could, and rescuing them from the wrecked car for onward transportation to a medical facility.
But since that incident happened in July 2016, this young woman and her crew have been allegedly left for dead. After several surgeries setting their families back by several millions of naira, the management of the multinational remain unperturbed despite several entreaties, save for only one unproductive visit to the hospital in August.
Funke is now wheelchair-ridden, effectively halting her career and sole source of income - singing. The only song she sings now is that of justice, a tune that has not struck a chord with the management team at Dangote. Whatever was left of her fortune had been put into rehabilitation. Over N5,000,000 has been spent by Funke’s family, yet no compensation appears forthcoming from the corporate giant, Dangote! (N5m is the equivalent of the annual salary of a Dangote Graduate Driver).
The drivers of Dangote trucks, need I say, are reputed gods of the road, particularly on that old Abeokuta Motor Road axis, and all around Ilaro and Ibese where Dangote Cement factories are located. Aided by the sorry condition of the roads, they act like the rest of us are at their mercy, and like they’re being magnanimous for allowing us ply the roads in the first place. And to think that the company recruits graduate drivers who underwent rigorous trainings!
You’ll be alarmed to see the way they drive exiting the Apapa Quays every time, like it’s a Formula 1 flag-off. Driving a Ports vehicle like a sports vehicle cannot be acceptable in a sane society; and the FRSC can do better putting the reins on such truck drivers as they put the reins on those drivers that have not put their belts on.
In the foregoing manner, Dangote trucks had mauled quite a number of people in 2016 alone. In April, Ajayi Yekini, a Dangote truck driver crushed his own conductor, Mojeed Jubril, to death. In May, an entire family of six was mauled to death in Akwa-Ibom State by a Dangote truck driven by Isa Bello.
In July, a Dangote truck rammed into a kerosene tanker at Ugep, Cross River State, crushing the driver’s legs, with injuries from which he later died. In August, near Fibawe, along Bdola-Kapiri Road, Zambia, eight people were killed when a Dangote truck overtaking recklessly caused a multiple accident. And these are just the tip.
A popular Lagos lawyer is said to be very much interested in helping Funke Gold get justice, hoping it will also help slash the excesses of these hapless drivers of Dangote trucks, and help Funke back to being herself.
Written by ‘Dele Dele-Olukoju, Marketing Communication strategist, and publisher of the online Marketing Communication Digest. He writes from Lagos, Nigeria.
'Dele Dele-Olukoju
Award-winning Marketing Communication Practitioner
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