Fan Ndubuoke, General Manager, Heartland FC of Owerri?has called on the Federal Government to?rename the?National Stadium, Abuja?after?the late Chief MKO Abiola.
Ndubuoke made the call?in Ibadan at a public lecture organised by the Oyo State Chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) to commemorate the 75th birthday of Abiola.
He said that Abiola’s contribution to the development of sports in Africa was exemplary and worthy of?emulation.
“Our government should rename the National Stadium in Abuja after MKO Abiola and I believe that this is the only thing they can do to assuage the feelings of those of us who are into sports.?
“His was for common good. It was deliberate, he was passionate about it, it was sustained.
“It was not for political gains, it was not for prestige neither was it for personal aggrandisement,’’ Ndubuoke said.
He described the Abiola as the only Nigerian who had contributed passionately to the development of sports, adding that such efforts needed to be appreciated by the government.
The former SWAN president urged the government to always appreciate people who passionately contribute to the development of the country.
He described the present state of Nigerian sports as “one suffering from the placement of mediocrity over meritocracy’’.
Ndubuoke advised journalists to always be objective in their reports so as?to also contribute to the development of sports.
In his speech, Mr Bosun Oladele, Oyo State Commissioner for Information, who represented Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, urged sports writers to shun corruption, saying such practices?affect objective reporting.
Oladele said that Nigeria would be a better place?if people collectively?shun corruption.
He urged the SWAN members?to be committed to their?work so as to excel, adding that striving to excellence?was one of the major watchword upheld by the late Abiola.
Similarly, Mr Gboyega Okegbenro, the General Manager of defunct Abiola Babes, commended Oyo SWAN for initiating the programme.
Okegbenro advised the sports writers to shun?laziness and the quest for money, adding that they must develop the spirit of competitiveness so as to leave a mark in life. (NAN)