Agony of Ex-Footballers

Soccer followers are getting disturbed over the increasing number of footballers who are living in penury after making so much money during their active days. What is responsible for it and is government supposed to be blame for neglect? Chris Onokpegu writes


I have always position myself in such a way that people will always want to have something to do with me…”
The above assertion was made by ex-Green Eagles winger, Segun Odegbami, also known as 'Mathematical'. He was responding to accusation by some ex-internationals that governments abandoned them in time of need after sacrificing everything for the country.
Minister of Sports and chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi at a book presentation titled “Me, Football and More” written by former Green Eagles' striker, Segun Odegbami revealed that most of the Nigeria ex-international footballers are in financial distress because of their failure to plan for life after retirement during their heyday.

Eagles celebrating

The minister said instead of the ex-players to wait on individuals and governments for help, they should begin to emulate people like Odegbami and try to transform themselves.
He said, “This is important to those who played football recently. Some of them fall sick they cannot even foot their medical bills; some of them are homeless, some are roaming around with nothing to do and each time people keep saying government has abandoned the ex-footballers.
“My argument always is that these athletes abandoned themselves long ago: in fact, if you hear the kind of money some of these footballers earn today, Odegbami will faint, yet no sooner they stop playing they end up in poverty.”
Abdullahi added, “Certainly if Segun Odegbami can survive after football for many years, I think every sportsman, every athlete has responsibility upon himself or herself to think of life outside and beyond sports.”
“We know that players like Victor Ikpeba did not earn the kind of money these footballers and athletes earn today, yet no sooner they stopped playing, they would ascend into poverty. But, when we see people like Ikpeba, Odegbami and couple of others, we see sportsmen that have continue to re-invest themselves again and again in the system. We will always feel encouraged. Odegbami has kept himself in the system. I was a small boy, who watched him win the Nations Cup in 1980, today I'm a minister.
He further claimed that footballers can start playing football today and break their legs, but that should not be the end of life. “It is painful that when injuries or retirement comes.”
However, some still believe that there are some ex-internationals who need government attention or assistance. They claimed that somebody like Samuel Okwaraji who died while playing for his country should be given urgent attention.
Okwaraji's mother, Mrs Jane has been lamented since the death of his son. She was reported to have accused government of making empty promises. “They promised to take care of the children when Sam died because he was the family's provider but nothing was done.”
She continued, “I am so surprised that a government could make false promises and also fail to fulfill the pledges it made. The government could not feel the death of the 24-year-old boy who died labouring to bring glory to Nigeria. That is so unfair. Nigeria has disappointed me because the government promised to help train my children to any level of education and at the same time help the family but they have failed.”
Worried by the state of ex-sportsmen, the Senate backed a Bill seeking to limit membership of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF board to ex -footballers.
The Bill for an Act to Repeal the Nigerian Football Association Act Cap. N110 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and Enact the Nigerian Football Federation Act 2013 to provide for football administration in Nigeria was passed for second reading.
It provides that only footballers who have been actually involved in competitive football can be members of the federation and not just organisations and establishment as it is contained in the extant act.
Some analysts however believe that those who are accusing the federal government are not sincere. They questioned if the sportsmen always forgot that the messenger who works in the government office for 30 to 35 years also work very hard to serve Nigeria.
Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Sani Lulu simply said everybody including the civil servants, journalists also need government attention. He however advised everybody including sports men to always remember that they must plan for future, while they are active in their chosen endeavours.
A soccer fan, Gbenga Akande argued that the players owe the nation gratitude for identifying them and bringing them to limelight. “When the messenger, driver, others fall ill, nobody knows or goes around crying that government has abandoned him, why must the ex-internationals do that after, where they not paid their allowances and other entitlements. Apart from Okwaraji, who amongst them played for the country without demanding for their money? Some of them on several occasions even held the country to ransom.”
Our findings revealed that some players who made it big while playing football later lived in penury. Etim Esin was a star during his days but the rape case against him forced him to leave his base in Belgium for the fear of being jailed. He later retired prematurely and he was reported to be eating from hand to mouth.
Super Eagles prolific striker, Rashidi Yekini, was said to have died in his village because of the family's inability to raise money for hospital bill. Yekini, who scored Nigerian first World Cup goal was said to have been mentally derailed before he passed on.
Yekini who played for some of the big clubs in Africa and Europe, notable amongst them is Victoria Setubal of Greece, died in penury after so many years of living in affluent.
Recently, Thompson Oliha passed on after a brief illness. Source close to him said the ex-international was living from hand to mouth. He was said to have died of malaria. Some analysts claimed if he was still playing active football, he would have gone for medical check-up in some of the best hospitals in the world.
There were speculations in some quarters that former Chelsea left-full back, Celestine Babayaro was bankrupt after making so much money even before Chelsea billionaire; Roman Abrahimovich took over the club. Despite starting football at a tender age where he made so much money, he was bankrupt. It took the recent appointment by Chelsea for him to bounce back to life.
Also not forgetting Daniel 'Da Bull' Amokachi, who was making money from football and modeling at the same time in Fenerbache, Turkey. He was alleged to have made so much money that he acquired a private plane.
The Hunters Weekly gathered that it took the quick intervention of former Nasarawa state governor, Adamu Abdullahi, for Amokachi to escape penury as he was alleged to have sold all his properties except the one in Kaduna which was also put on sale then.
The governor gave him appointment as assistant coach before being given his recent job as Super Eagles assistant coach. Opabunmi recently lost his sight due to his inability to raise money for medication.
Not happy with the way he was treated during his ordeal, Etim Esin said he would not stick his neck out for his son to play Nigeria. According to him, “My son was born in Paris. The mother is Malian. He has options to play for France and Mali if he chooses to play football. But for him to play for Nigeria, I won't stick out my neck for it. You see what I have been through.”
He claimed that his former teammates are not allowing their children to take after football because of what they went through and not rewarded. “How many ex-internationals kids are playing football? It's because of what we laid down that is affecting us. Look at Abedi Pele from Ghana. Two of his sons play for Ghana. People that should change things are not doing anything,” Esin complained.
Why some ex-internationals and sportsmen and women were battling to keep afloat, others are doing very well. Former Super Eagles winger, Finidi George was recently appointed coach of a youth team in his former club, Real Betis. The same with Sunday Oliseh before he became a television analyst. Peter Rufai is a master degree holder and handles an academy, Samson Siasia own an academy, apart from being a coach, likewise Austin Eguavoen. Stephen Keshi owns chains of businesses in the United States of America, USA, apart from being the Super Eagles coach.
Kanu Nwankwo remains one of the most successful footballers of all time with different investments scattered around the United Kingdom, UK; Holland, and some parts of Nigeria in hospitality business, medical, estate developments, amongst others. He was spotted training some young lads during his last visit to Abuja.
Bolaji declared that government has the responsibility to take care of every citizen,  not only ex-internationals and advised the upcoming ones to start doing something for themselves and think of life after profession or career when they are still active. “This is the most important lesson we have to learn from Segun Odegbami authoring a book.”
Akande also believe that ex-internationals are not supposed to be burden on government; instead, they should emulate Kanu Nwankwo, who is creating employment for millions of people out there. “A word is enough for the wise,” he concluded.

N4.2 Billion Trailer Ghost Project Hunts Abaji Fmr Chairman

The last has not been yet heard over corruption series that rocked the Southern entry point to the Federal Capital Territory, FCT during the tenure of immediate past chairman of Abaji, Hon. Yahaya Muhammad.
Muhammad who is currently aspiring under the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP to contest for the house of representative seat could not account for 4.2 Billion Naira trailer project along the Abaji/Lokoja expressway.

The abandoned park

During the launch of the project in 2010 at the Abuja International Conference Centre, the former chairman told prospective investors of his commitment to work hand in hand with them to achieve the milestone project to decongest the Council of trailers and articulated vehicles.
At presentation, he said the project was to tackle indiscriminate parking of heavy duty vehicles on the highways, describing the project as one of the best things to have come to the area council and assured that at its completion it will provide trailers and articulated vehicles with appropriate parking areas.
Meanwhile, the residents of the Abaji council have complained bitterly over the long awaited promise made by the former chairman saying that he only paid lip-service to the project which could have had a meaningful impact to the people and motorists in that area.
Speaking to the Hunters weekly, one of the residents Mr Tanko Umaru explained that both indigenes and residents of the community cannot identify any project that was completed by the past administration.
“When he was busy telling Nigerians that he was embarking on a billion naira trailer park project we laughed at him, because we know that he wanted to use that avenue to defraud investors and the council because he wants to contest for house of representatives.
“He siphoned over N600 million from the council purse in the name of that project and up till now we can see anything on that site, and the predecessor that he brought into power as the chairman could not continue with the project because he is still paying debt that Muhammad left in the council. Muhammad used the money realised from the investors to form a Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO called Abaji Rural Area Development Association (ARADA),” Umaru alleged.
A revelation by the Senate Committee on FCT on the councils during the tenure of the former chairman of Abaji, confirmed that there was a can of worms. The then committee threatened to drag the council to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
We gathered that the Senate discovered that the councils voted 80 per cent of their budgets for overhead costs and 15 per cent for capital projects while virtually nothing was gotten as Internally Generated Revenue, IGR.
The Senate was told that the Abaji Area Council generates the sum of N2,000 annually from 40 market stalls, which were renovated with the sum of N70 million.
The rot was further punctuated by revelations from the Abaji Area Council, whose Internally Generated Revenue continued to nose-dive. It was reported that the council generated only N27,455 in January 2010; N499,410 in February and N79,430 in March 2010. From the motor parks, it generated the sum of N2,900 in January; N50,410 in February and N11,000 in March 2010.
Also, the then chairman of Abaji Area Council was alleged to have spent the sum of N125 million on 40 hectares of land earmarked for the construction of a trailer park which belongs to the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA.
A member of the FCT Committee, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw, was alarmed by it, when he told the chairman, “This is enough to carry you to the EFCC.”
Another member of the committee, Senator Sidi Ali,  who was the  senator representing the FCT, questioned the allocation of N38 million for provision of desks and chairs in some schools in the councils, since the same projects were undertaken by the office of the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs and Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC.
The senators also condemned the allocation of N729.72 million as overhead cost, N92 million for sanitation and N11million for ante-natals; N4 million on Nigeria at 50 celebration; N11 million on community development and N2 million on furnishing of a Youth Centre  as contained in the councils' 2011 budget.
Hunters weekly also gathered recently that the house committee on FCT during their visit to the council unearthed massive corrupt practices still going on raging from contract inflation to double contract awards.
It would also be recalled that the Abuja Inquirer in its area councils' corruption series outlined how Muhammed's exotic taste cost council millions of naira, published on Monday, November 18, 2013.
The Abuja Inquirer alleged that the council spent a princely sum of N117.6 million for the upkeep of the chairman's office in the past 10 months with N42 million for refreshment; amongst others.
However, our findings also revealed that Muhammad gets monthly allocation from the council's treasury through contribution to unspecified local to the tune of N1.2million and has thus far taken N14.9 million while the chairman's office gulps N8.5 million for renovation.
A breakdown of the money spent on refreshments in the council is as follows; the Chairman's office gulp N7.8 million, secretary's office N2 million, traditional rulers spent N1.5 million while the legislative arm gulped N14 million.
We also gathered that other departments that benefited from the refreshments largesse include the audit department spending N400,000.00; administrative department N6.2 million; Finance and Account made away with N9 million; Health and Human Resources spent N850, 000.00 while Environmental and Sanitation department spent N160,000.00.
Other areas funds were allegedly being siphoned from the council include the control of communicable, prevention and control of non-communicable diseases at the cost of N96.6 million, general services of the council was put at N75.8 million, sanitation and refuse control cost the council N30 million; clearing and compacting of 40hectres of land for commercial center, trailer park and mega station equally cost the council the staggering sum of N125 million.
It was also gathered that when the House Committee on Area Councils and Ancillary Matters visited the trailer park and mega station as part of its constitutional oversight functions of Abaji Area Council, there was nothing to show for the money spent so far on the project.
During the tour of area councils by the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, FCT chapter recently, the present council chairman absconded claiming to attend an emergency meeting with the FCT minister of state.
Meanwhile, when The Hunters Weekly called the Special Assistant on Media to Muhammad, he told our correspondent to go and ask the incumbent chairman of the council because his boss handed over to him.
When our correspondent insisted on hearing from his boss, he said he has nothing to say except we go to the current chairman. Also several efforts to get the chairman or the information officer to respond to the allegations were unsuccessful.

CBN Governor Awards N5 Billion Contract To el-Rufai Without Due Process

…As Sanusi is set to Marry Former FCT Minister's Sister

Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido is in the news again for the wrong reason.
The governor was reported to have awarded contracts worth N5 billion to former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai without due process.

CBN Governor, Sanusi

The center, which will be where the old NITEL building was, would have malls, business centers, and sundry commercial and recreational concerns. A South African firm demolished the old NITEL building.
Report said Sanusi gave el-Rufai's quantity surveying firm the multi billion-naira contract because he is in love with the sister. We gathered that both men would soon be in-laws.
We also gathered that preparations are on top gear because the kid sister of el-Rufai may soon be Mrs Lamido Sanusi. The Nikai is expected to take place soon in Daudawa, Faskari Local Government area of Katsina state.
There also indications that el-Rufai's firm also got a large part of the N64 Billion FCT city gate project that would have pedestrian bridges; the Northern axis would have conference rooms, parade ground, botanical garden, five star hotel and hospital among others.
Sources hinted that the CBN which has disbursed over N163 billion so far under the Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR sub head, has concluded plans to build another events center in Garki, Abuja for a whooping sum of N84 billion.

Former minister, El-Rufai

El-Rufai and Partners Limited, design cost associates based in Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja has already landed the design contract for the center.
The professional fee for the firm which is said to stand at 6 per cent is about N5 billion. Besides there is no evidence that due process was followed by the CBN in the award.
The total cost is said to be a little above N94 Billion with about N10 Billion going into professional fees for surveyors, architects. Sources in the CBN headquarters disclosed that the CBN Governor has been capitalizing on the liberal nature of the President to award contracts to his friends and cronies.
He said, “Can you imagine Sanusi awarding contracts to his friends under a General Sani Abacha or even President Musa Yar'Adua? This can only happen simply because President Goodluck Jonathan is very liberal-minded, he simply allows people to get away with a lot of thing.”
It would be recalled that el-Rufai joined critics of the federal government shortly after he left the economic team of Ex President Olusegun Obasanjo and his exit as FCT minister.

Akinjide's Alleged Bullet Proof Cars

Akinjide: I Did Not Purchase Such Cars 
Aide: She Has Two, Bought One For N67m, The 2nd For N120m from Coscharis Motors

The last has not been heard of the minister of state for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mrs Olajumoke Akinjide, as she has been accused of acquiring the latest bullet-proof cars from Coscharis Motor.
During our investigation, we discovered one of the cars parked in her compound in Ilorin, Kwara state where the husband resides. However, the latest report is that she has acquired another one worth N120 million.

When our correspondent visited her country home in Ibadan, Oyo state, he saw the second bullet-proof car but for the fear of being arrested by security men in the compound, he left the scene because according to him, he was being suspected.
The Hunters Weekly also went the extra mile to confirm from the neighbours of the minister in Ibadan and they attested to the fact. They claimed that they saw one new car and just less than two months, they saw another one but the first one has been moved out.
Meanwhile, one of the aides of the minister (Special Assistant) who we will not like to disclose his identity for the fear of being sacked confided in The Hunters Weekly that Akinjide actually bought the two cars.
His first reaction when he saw the promo in the last edition of the The Hunters Weekly was: “Haa…! This people (The Hunters Weekly) have gotten this story.
He further disclosed that the minister bought her own the same time the leader of the House of Representatives got his also at the cost of N120 million and they were the first two persons to have such cars in the country as at press time.
According to him, “Akinjide bought the first car for N67 million while she bought the second one for N120 million amounting to N187 million.”
When The Hunters Weekly put a call to the Special Assistant on Media Matters, Adedeji, to confirm from Akinjide whether she actually bought the cars or not, he refused and instead told our correspondent on phone that, “Madam said she did not have such cars.”
That was after he had arguments with our correspondent during a phone conversation. He accused our correspondent of trying to dent the image of her madam and also went as far as trying to lecture him on how to do his job.
Our correspondent understood the plight of the SA on media because he just assumed the position and he wants to protect his job.

Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide

It would be recalled that the former special assistant on media resigned his appointment because of the so many allegations Akinjide was allegedly associated with.
We reliably gathered that all Akinjide's aides fear her because she doesn't take advice hence they don't disclose information to her or advise her on any issue because she might pick offence in it.
Meanwhile, when The Hunters Weekly visited Akinjide's homes recently, our correspondent discovered that the cars have been moved out of the two compounds (Ibadan and Ilorin), maybe for the fear of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Some of the residents who stay on the same streets in both Ibadan and Ilorin with the minister who spoke on anonymity said they saw some vehicles being moved out of the compound penultimate week, (that was the first week The Hunters Weekly put a call to one of her aides to confirm the acquisition of the bullet proof cars).
All efforts to confirm from Coscharis whether she bought the cars from them or not proved abortive because according to them, they don't disclose the identity of their customers but a staff who spoke on anonymity confirmed that the minister actually bought the cars from them.
Meanwhile, a resident of Ilorin, who simply gave his name as Gbenga for fear of being tracked by Akinjide's security aides said the minister's husband couldn't have bought the vehicles because he is not in custody of money like the type Akinjide controls in Abuja.
According to Gbenga, even the governor will not allow any of his aides to get such money because the loopholes have been blocked by his administration and he had warned in one of the functions he attended recently that anyone found wanting will be thrown out and disgraced.
It would be recalled that the husband recently decamped to the Alliance for Progressive Change, APC because he serves in the government of Kwara state controlled by APC.

FCT Indigene Murdered In Cold Blood

Panic, tears and sorrow were the order of the day Thursday night in Utako village, Abuja, following the gruesome murder of a 27-year-old man by a 4-man gang in the area.

FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed

Hunters weekly gathered that Alhassan Usman met his untimely death when an argument ensued between him and the teenage gangster who stabbed him to death.
Trouble started when the deceased was said to have rebuked the teenagers over their misconduct but the teenage did not take the action likely and instead stabbed Usman.
The father of the deceased, Madaki Musa, told reporters in Abuja that the gang had earlier threatened to deal with his son for cautioning them, a threat which they eventually made good in a most bizarre way at 7pm on the ill-fated day.
According to him, “There was a time those young boys went to the Primary school across the road and raped some young girls, so when the report came to the elders, they were summoned to the Chief's palace. The Chief decided to punish them in the palace. The same boys that stabbed my son, came back to the palace and told the elders that they should call the young girls in the primary to warn them, if not they will not stop raping them.”
“My son tried to caution them that they had no right to come to the community and talk to the elders rudely. They warned him to watch his back that they will be deal with him.”
The hoodlums had waited for a while after issuing the threat before carrying out the dastardly act on the victim.
With pain, the father of the deceased said, “We never expected that it would get to this level.”
Musa further narrated that he had just returned from the Mosque that night when he saw his son quarrelling with the four young boys.
The bereaved man said he had appealed to them not to quarrel and left them alone only to return to his house and get the shocking news that his son had been stabbed to death.
Giving an account of how the incident occurred, elder brother to the deceased, Usman Musa who witnessed the attack said trouble started when he and his younger brother left his room that fateful evening to pick up his car which had broken down somewhere.
“I saw my younger brother (the deceased) protecting his head with his hands, while they were beating him. I made attempts to stop them from hitting him on the head.  I had approached one of the boys to ask him what was wrong, but instead of answering me, he attacked me with a knife, but I was fast enough to notice, and I tried to hold him to draw the attention our neighbours.
“But he was fast and ran away, that was when I remembered my brother and started looking for him, but it was too late,  they had already stabbed him and people that saw him being stabbed had to rush him to the hospital. When I saw one of them, I chase him and caught him. We called the Police and they took him to the police station,” he recalled.
Meanwhile, the Hunter Weekly further gathered that some residents of the area took to the streets to protest the gruesome murder of the young man.
The protesting residents were said to have marched through the ever busy Jabi Express Way, down to Utako Police Station, carrying leaves; their procession hindered the flow of traffic.
They demanded for justice, and called on the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Administration to map out ways of ending teenage criminality in the territory.
Eyewitnesses said it took the intervention of the DPO of Utako Police Station, CSP Usman Umar to calm the frayed nerves of the protesters.
He was said to have taken the responsibility of personally escorting the protesters from the Police Station back to the village as he appealed to them not to take the law into their hands.
Umar was said to have assured them that justice would be done as the police in the area would do everything possible to arrest the three members of the gang who are at large.

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