Makinde  Fulfills  Land Promise To  Shooting Stars Players 

The Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has approved the long-promised allocation of land to the 1998 victorious squad of Shooting Stars of Ibadan players and officials.

The gesture, which fulfilled a 26-year-old pledge made by the then Military Administrator of the State, Compol Amen Oyakhire, is a reward for 3SC’s historic double in 1998, when the team won both the Nigeria Premier League and the WAFU Cup — a sub-regional club tournament for clubs in the West African lands.

As part of the reward announced in 1998, each player and official was to receive ?1 million and a plot of land. While the cash reward was disbursed, successive administrations failed to implement the land allocation — until now.

Governor Makinde’s intervention has been widely applauded by the club’s former players, officials, and fans. Speaking on behalf of the 1998 squad, former club secretary Akin Maxwell described the governor’s gesture as “a sign of leadership driven by justice, integrity, and human compassion.”

“Engr. Makinde has put smiles on the faces of these heroes who made Oyo State and Nigeria proud. His commitment to redressing past injustices has set him apart from his predecessors,” he said.

The 1998 team, led by the late chairman Bode Oyewole and coach Jossy Ladipo, included a mix of home-grown and foreign talents who now stand as proud beneficiaries of the governor’s approval. Among them are:

1. Sunday Adu (Captain), Andrew Aikhomogbe, Shanka Ugwah, Eric Ejiofor, Late Dimeji Adenekan, Niyi Elegbede, Samuel Yamta, John Benson, Leye Akinde, Late Mojeed Azeez, Late Pius Daniel, Rafiu Salaudeen, Bauldwin Bazuaye, Golden Ajeboh.

Others are:  Sunday Ilevbare, Allen Njoh Njoh, Peter Obanor, Ochuko Otos, Shobayo Adesina, Kazeem Tijani, Kola Ademola, Friday Christopher, Late Jossy Ladipo (Coach), Late Bode Oyewole (Chairman), and Barr. Owolabi Salami

The lands are expected to be formally allocated with Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) issued by the Oyo State Ministry of Lands and Urban Development in the coming weeks.

This decision reaffirms Governor Makinde’s commitment to honouring those who have contributed significantly to the growth and pride of the state, particularly in the area of sports.