Hon. Samuel Onuigbo Moves For FG To Immortalize Keshi And Amodu

Nigeria was recently thrown into mourning by the death of two of her prominent sons. The two sons, who were champions of the country’s most beloved sports—football—died within the same week.

Yet it was disheartening to note that despite their selfless services to the country, they were still owed arrears of salaries.

In a move to remedy this situation and at least provide succour to the families of those two illustrious sons of Nigeria, Chief Ifeanyi Onuigbo, who is the House of Representative Member representing Ikwuano, Umuahia North/South Federal constituency of Abia State, moved a motion for the Federal Government to immortalize these two sons of Nigeria, and the immediate payment of all the arrears of entitlements owed to them, to their grieving families.

This motion which is transcribed below:
The House;
Notes the sudden death of two former National football coaches within a space of four days, with Stephen Okechukwu Keshi dying on Tuesday 7th June, 2016 while Alhaji Amodu Shuaibu died on Saturday 11th June, 2016, in Benin City, the Edo State capital, both were aged 54 and 58 years respectively.

Also notes that Stephen Keshi and Mahmoad EL-Gohary, an Egytian were the only Africans who had won the Nations Cup both as players and coaches with Stephen Keshi winning it in 1994 as a player and in 2013 as a coach, he was also an international gaffer, having coached Togo and Mali National teams;

Observes that Amodu was the National coach on four different occasions during which the team won Bronze medals twice at the AFCON (African Cup of Nations) in Mail 2002 and Angola 2010, he also qualified the Super Eagles on two occasions for the FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010. Amodu was also the Nigerian Football Federation Technical Adviser until his demise.

Aware that these two iconic Nigerians served the country meritoriously as coaches, and now their demise is not only a huge loss to Nigeria and their families but to the International Community as well and we can understand the pains both families and Nigerians are currently going through.

Also aware that Nigerians and the international community as a whole have lost the experiences of these patriots and heroes of football, whose services have been lost forever.

Worried by the information, that Amodu Shuaibu was being owed arrears of salaries running into many months and was equally being owed by the Edo State Government, having worked as the Director of the State Youth Football Development Agency, a position from which he resigned only last year.

Concerned that these iconic Nigerians who exercised leadership in football administration and impacted positively on the nation and the world in ways that their outstanding accomplishments brought happiness to Nigerians even in the periods of economic and political adversities died at a time like this when football as a sport enjoyed by Nigerians is taking a nose dive.

Resolves to;

  1. Mandate the Committee on Sports to liaise with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to ensure immediate payment of the entitlements due to the families of Stephen Keshi and Amodu Shuaibu as a conscious effort towards cushioning any pains and financial pressures on the families.
  2. Urge the Federal Government to immortalize these outstanding football icons who had served the country selflessly, so as to encourage the younger ones to always give their best for the development of the country.

I so move!

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Articles by Nnaemeka Oruh