At Night of Tributes for Sports Icons, Gusau eulogizes Tinubu, commends Odegbami, Onyema
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON), on Monday evening, seized the opportunity to salute the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), for his unwavering dedication to motivating Nigeria’s living sports heroes and never forgetting those who have passed on.
‘Mr. President has taken the bull by the horns to abolish the era when the nation’s sports heroes laboured in vain. Their sweat is now well-rewarded, as deserved. I take cues from the honours and gifts handed to the Super Eagles when they finished as runners-up at the Africa Cup of Nations last year, and to the Super Falcons who just returned from winning the Women’s AFCON in Morocco.
‘Our heroes deserve all the recognition, appreciation, and celebration that we can give them—whether they are alive or dead. That is the culture we must birth and nurture,’ Gusau said at the Night of Tributes organized for Nigeria’s sports icons at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, on Monday night.
The event, which was put together by Air Peace airline (whose chairman, Allen Onyema, has shown consistent interest in the well-being of former Nigerian sports heroes) and former Nigeria captain Olusegun Odegbami (a relentless advocate for the recognition and proper appreciation of the nation’s sporting icons), paid tributes to former Nigeria captains ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu and Peter Rufai, former internationals Charles Bassey and Moses Effiong, and boxing champion Obisia Nwakpa—all of whom passed away in recent months.
‘People talk about the neglect of our sporting heroes, but we can see that President Tinubu is changing the narrative. When the Eagles won silver at the Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire early last year, Mr. President rewarded the team handsomely.
‘We can all see what he has done for the Super Falcons for winning the WAFCON in Morocco,’ Gusau said, in a speech read on his behalf by a member of the NFF Executive Committee, Chief George Aluo.
Gusau also praised Air Peace chairman Allen Onyema, Chief Olusegun Odegbami, and the Director-General of the NIIA, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, for organizing the Night of Tributes for the departed legends.
‘I salute all those who deemed it fit to honour ‘Chairman’ Chukwu and the other legends. These men did Nigeria proud in their lifetimes. They were warriors who defended our colours, inspired our youth, and lifted our spirits. We will never forget their amazing contributions to Nigerian football.’
