Sports
Aliyu Charts Path To Peace, Unity
Governor Babangida
Aliyu of Niger has called for the removal of indigene and non-indigene
dichotomy from the Constitution as a way of achieving national unity, cohesion
and peaceful co-existence.
Aliyu made the call when he received members of the Northern
Yoruba Community, led by its President General, Alhaji Jamiu Oguntoyinbo, at
the Government House, Minna.
“The indigene and non-indigene pattern has caused the
country more problem than what it was initially planned to achieve.
“Everybody should be free to live and work in any part of
the country notwithstanding from what part of the country that person has come
from.
“It is only those that have criminal tendencies or work
against the peace and progress of the communities they live that should be
discriminated against.
“Nigeria is meant for Nigerians; it is unfortunate that some
foreigners are recognised more than the original Nigerians just because of the
language they speak and the religion they believe in. We must forget the
settler syndrome if Nigeria is to move forward,’’ the governor said.
Aliyu noted that selfish individuals used the non-indigene
policy to exploit the poor, adding that he had directed council chairmen in the
state to accord indigene status to anyone who lived for six years in any Local
Government Area.
Commenting on the recent petition to the state assembly by
some “Concerned Citizen of Niger State’’, Aliyu said the petitioners were
sponsored by those who believed that it should be a business as usual and
government should do their bidding.
He stressed that his administration would continue to do
things positively, adding that equity, justice and fair play would continue to
be the guiding principles of his administration.
Oguntoyinbo commended the governor for appointing some
Yorubas as special assistants and advisers, urging other governors in the
country to emulate the act to entrench unity.
Ndigene Dichotomy
A well-known football pundit in the State, Chief Christopher Okonkwo has lauded the efforts and vision of the Super Eagles Coach Eric Chelle for going from one venue of the Nigeria Domestic Nigeria Professional Football League match to the other in monitoring Nigerian players, with a view to invite some exceptional good one discovered into the main stream of the Super Eagles team.
Okonkwo, who made the commendation in an interview at the Port Harcourt Club recently, described the positive move by Coach Chelle as a good step in the right direction, noting that the practice was how its been done in the past among any contracted coach assigned to tinker the Super Eagles team.
“Truly, it has been an old tradition in the country seeing any newly engaged Coach to lead the National team, visiting some our Nigeria League venues during the league matches to spot light some good talents that could be used to beef up some grey areas in the department of Eagles team”
He, however, frowned at the current situation where our coaches had continously been over depending on the use of foreign based players during invitation of players to the National camp, thereby, relegating the domestic home based league players to the background as if they have nothing much to offer to the team.
“I can vividly recall that the likes of great players in the mode of Finidi George, Taribo West, Kanu Nwankwo, Austin Okocha, Richard Owobokiri, Emmanuel Osuigwe among others started from Nigeria football league before they graduated to play in Europe through which they later invited to Super Eagles camp to represent Nigeria”
“Besides, I’m also of the view that going to secondary school football competitive games could equally serves as a a good platform to discover budding talents that could be nurtured to become great stars in near future”, Okonkwo frankly added.
Okonkwo, therefore, prayed that any football coach to be engaged by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to tinker the Super Eagles should be told not to confine himself in staying in big hotel alone but to be visiting some of our local league match venues, with a view to discover some good players that can be drafted into the Super Eagles team.
“Indeed, I stand to be challenged that there some young good players in the Nigeria Professional League. If spotted and exposed, could give the some of the invited foreign based players a stiff competitive fight in securing a postion in the team”, Okonkwo emphatically stated.
Ezechukwu, one of the youngest members of the Nigerian contingent at the championship in Ghana, said her ambition was to win the 100m title in style and cap it with a new personal record.
The fresh secondary school graduate explained that she is fully focused on contributing to Team Nigeria’s medal hopes and is determined to deliver strong performances across her events.
“My main objective in Ghana is to clinch the 100m title and the 4×100m,” Ezechukwu told Tidesports source.
“Nigeria can be assured of my very best and my commitment to the Team. I would love to set a new personal best in Ghana, but anything that comes, I will take it. The spirit in the team is high, and I think we are ready to go,” she said.
Ezechukwu, who was part of Nigeria’s women’s 4x100m relay squad at the World Relays in Botswana, said the experience gained from that competition has strengthened her mindset heading into the continental championships.
She admitted that she learned valuable lessons from her previous outing, including a difficult moment during the relay where an early error affected the team’s rhythm, but said she has used the experience to improve her discipline and composure.
“The secret is just being disciplined, training hard and trusting my coach and believing in God, and the result will show,” she added.
The teenager is part of a 41-member Nigerian team comprising 24 female and 17 male athletes competing at the championships, which begin today at the University of Ghana, Legon.
Nigeria are expected to compete across multiple track and field events as they aim for a strong finish against the continent’s elite athletes.
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