If you know Emmanuel Okala, Martins Eyo, Tunde Bamidele, Kadiri Ikhana, John Orlando, Best Ogedegbe, Muda Lawal, and Segun Odegbami you will remember that the team used to be known as the Green Eagles until they were renamed Super Eagles.
You will remember that they became Super for doing something Superlative – They won the African Nations Cup for Nigeria for the first time.
For this act of patriotism, they were allocated houses since 1980, but while they had possession these members of the Super Eagles had no documentation.
But 38 years after, the Buhari Government has changed that. Letters of Allocation have been issued to these remaining 8 (Eight) allottees.
They will tell you that change means solving a 38 year old problem.
We gather today because another problem in our Sports Sector that is 24 years old has been resolved by the Buhari Government.
This is the case of Mr Bonfrere Jo, the Assistant Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles who won the 1994 Nations Cup and were given houses by the Government of Nigeria.
Sadly, Mr Jo never got his own and his lawyer wrote a letter to Government to this effect on 20/9/1996.
We gather today because Mr Bonfrere Jo knows what change means.
Change means that the Buhari Government has solved a 24 year old problem.
Change means that Mr Bonfrere Jo now has his house 24 years after.
Change means that a 24 year old pledge has been redeemed and this is how Mr Bonfrere Johannes Franciscus puts it in his letter of 13th February 2018.
“I wish to first and foremost register my
profound gratitude to the Hon. Minister
for his kind gesture in redeeming the
pledge made by the Federal Government
of Nigeria pursuant to our historic
feat in clinching the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations”
As we prepare for the 2018 World Cup this story of change must serve as an inspiration to our players and our officials that promises made will be kept.
Change means that the Buhari Government is solving difficult and old problems not only in Sports, but in infrastructure , like the Bodo – Bonny Bridge in Rivers State and the Mambilla Hydro Power Project which have been in conception for almost 40 years.
I thank you all for your attention.
