My Grandmother Behind My Ordeal And Why I Lied That My Father Was Dead — Amputee Hawker Clarifies, Begs For Forgiveness

Mary Daniel, the amputee hawker who has recently been accused of
not being completely truthful about her condition, has apologized
to Nigerians.

The 27-year-old single mother received N25million donations from
Nigerians who were moved by claims that she lost her leg in an
accident that claimed the life of all passengers, including her
parents.

However, it’s been claimed that there was no accident and she
was amputated “from birth”, a claim she denies. It was also
reported that her father is still alive.

Speaking to SaharaReporters, Mary said she made a mistake by
saying her father was dead, but she did so because the man
abandoned her.

Mary denied claims that her presence in Oshodi was staged to
garner sympathy.

She said she’s been hawking for a while to make ends meet.

She explained that she used to hawk in Onitsha, Anambra state,
from where she moved to Asaba in Delta state and then to Lagos.

She also denied claims that she had been receiving strange calls
from the people who staged her story as they want their share of
her fortune.

She told SaharaReporters that it was her maternal grandmother
who had been making the calls to demand for money even after she
sent her N200, 000.

As for lying about being in an accident, she claimed there was
nothing to lie about as it’s obvious she is an amputee who lost a
leg.

She said: “My father abandoned me since I was involved in this
accident, there was no one to take care of me, nothing! That was
why I said he’s dead. But my mother is truly dead. I had an
accident truly; I was not amputated from birth.

“It was my grandmother that called me that she does not have
anything, that if I have, I should send it. I said let me give her
small money so she can use it to manage herself for now. I wanted
to send N100, 000, I sent N200, 000 instead. She called me and
asked why I sent her such a meagre amount, that, do I think she
doesn’t know what’s going on, that how will people be contributing
money for me and all I do is to send N200, 000.

“She said I’d rather send more money or she will expose me and I
will go back to selling pure water. I was shocked and asked what
sort of thing is this. She’s my maternal grandmother, she is really
old.

“My aunties and uncles from my mother’s side are the ones
pushing my grandmother into this and if she continues like this,
later she will regret it. I have told her to calm down that I will
take care of her but she refused. She is busy following her
children around, making videos, that’s their business.

“Nigerians should forgive me. People that stay on the streets
and in noisy places, they hardly have a settled mind and I said my
father is late so Nigerians can help me. I made a big mistake;
Nigerians should please forgive me.

“I want to open a supermarket in Lagos. I have always been a
pure water hawker. Lagos is not the first place, I started from
Onitsha, from there, I sold pure water in Asaba from there I came
to Lagos. I don’t beg, even in my condition, I hawk that water so I
can survive. That’s the business I have always been doing.

“I really appreciate the Lagos state government, Mr Idris, the
hotel man that gave me accommodation, that celebrated my birthday.
I also appreciate Princess Aderemi, for all the support and
everyone that helped. I promise not to fail Nigerians.”

Also speaking, His Royal Highness, Sani Yakubu Ejima, Onu Igala,
leader of the Igala people in Lagos and chairman of all the Kogi
Igala traditional rulers in Lagos told the publication that Mary
Daniel was not handed over to the police as some reports had
claimed.

According to him, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide
Sanwo-Olu on Civic Engagement, Aderemi Adebowale, handed Daniel
over to a committee, including Irede Foundation and to him so they
can assist Daniel in setting up a business.

Mary Daniel, the amputee hawker who has recently been accused of
not being completely truthful about her condition, has apologized
to Nigerians.

The 27-year-old single mother received N25million donations from
Nigerians who were moved by claims that she lost her leg in an
accident that claimed the life of all passengers, including her
parents.

However, it’s been claimed that there was no accident and she
was amputated “from birth”, a claim she denies. It was also
reported that her father is still alive.

Speaking to SaharaReporters, Mary said she made a mistake by
saying her father was dead, but she did so because the man
abandoned her.

Mary denied claims that her presence in Oshodi was staged to
garner sympathy.

She said she’s been hawking for a while to make ends meet.

She explained that she used to hawk in Onitsha, Anambra state,
from where she moved to Asaba in Delta state and then to Lagos.

She also denied claims that she had been receiving strange calls
from the people who staged her story as they want their share of
her fortune.

She told SaharaReporters that it was her maternal grandmother
who had been making the calls to demand for money even after she
sent her N200, 000.

As for lying about being in an accident, she claimed there was
nothing to lie about as it’s obvious she is an amputee who lost a
leg.

She said: “My father abandoned me since I was involved in this
accident, there was no one to take care of me, nothing! That was
why I said he’s dead. But my mother is truly dead. I had an
accident truly; I was not amputated from birth.

“It was my grandmother that called me that she does not have
anything, that if I have, I should send it. I said let me give her
small money so she can use it to manage herself for now. I wanted
to send N100, 000, I sent N200, 000 instead. She called me and
asked why I sent her such a meagre amount, that, do I think she
doesn’t know what’s going on, that how will people be contributing
money for me and all I do is to send N200, 000.

“She said I’d rather send more money or she will expose me and I
will go back to selling pure water. I was shocked and asked what
sort of thing is this. She’s my maternal grandmother, she is really
old.

“My aunties and uncles from my mother’s side are the ones
pushing my grandmother into this and if she continues like this,
later she will regret it. I have told her to calm down that I will
take care of her but she refused. She is busy following her
children around, making videos, that’s their business.

“Nigerians should forgive me. People that stay on the streets
and in noisy places, they hardly have a settled mind and I said my
father is late so Nigerians can help me. I made a big mistake;
Nigerians should please forgive me.

“I want to open a supermarket in Lagos. I have always been a
pure water hawker. Lagos is not the first place, I started from
Onitsha, from there, I sold pure water in Asaba from there I came
to Lagos. I don’t beg, even in my condition, I hawk that water so I
can survive. That’s the business I have always been doing.

“I really appreciate the Lagos state government, Mr Idris, the
hotel man that gave me accommodation, that celebrated my birthday.
I also appreciate Princess Aderemi, for all the support and
everyone that helped. I promise not to fail Nigerians.”

Also speaking, His Royal Highness, Sani Yakubu Ejima, Onu Igala,
leader of the Igala people in Lagos and chairman of all the Kogi
Igala traditional rulers in Lagos told the publication that Mary
Daniel was not handed over to the police as some reports had
claimed.

According to him, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide
Sanwo-Olu on Civic Engagement, Aderemi Adebowale, handed Daniel
over to a committee, including Irede Foundation and to him so they
can assist Daniel in setting up a business.