By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Dec. 24, 2022 Unarguably in the last 8 years in the Political history of Nigeria as it concerns Governance at the State level, no comparison to the achievement in all facets of development from infrastructure, roads, sports, health, Education name it, to the Rivers State Governor His Excellency Nyesom Wike.
Even His Excellency President Mohammadu Buhari a sitting President from a different political party acknowledged Wike’s giant strides in massive infrastructural development that has been equitably distributed in all the Senatorial zones in Rivers State and honoured him.
Governor Wike Stands out amongst all the 36 Governors in Nigeria and Particularly his Brother Governors in the South South Region, while others are Squandering their 13% derivation and other allocations to oil producing states from the federation account Wike is either Commissioning a project or flagging- off one project week in week out in the full glare of the World.
Governor Wike Scores another Bulls eye yesterday the 23rd of December 2022 when he redeemed his pledge to the current NPFL Champions Rivers United Football Club. The Governor doled out the sum of $20,000 each to players and officials of Rivers United.
As at today Rivers United stands out as the best funded Government owned club in Nigeria. But what is the management of Rivers United doing to latch on the magnanimity of this rare gem of a Governor to be self sustaining as independent entity of the Rivers People?
How much take off grant do they need to be a leading Professional Club side in Africa? Have they put such a proposal before the Governor?
This Situation is also applicable to all the South South States with massive financial resources at their disposal specifically Delta, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states with the presence of multinationals like Shell, Chevron, Mobil, Agip etc. Warri Wolves FC and Bayelsa United are crawling and shuttling between NPFL and NNL.
The NPFL urgently needs competent managers that can think out of the Box to help our clubs make impact in Africa. All the NPFL clubs need divestment from the grip of State Governments.
Clubs like Rangers International, Shooting Stars, Enyimba International, Bendel Insurance and Kano pillars are all symbols of a particular race in Nigeria with cult followership and if they are open to the stock Exchange market they would all be over subscribed.
Ordinarily in a proper setting famous professional clubs Presidents are more popular than Football Federations Presidents. It’s time to wake up and run with the rest of the World our Football is the Abyss.
Thank you Governor Wike.
Harrison Jalla, Chairman PFAN task force
