The twenty-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.
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