Ohanaeze Ndigbo redeems FG’s 48-year-old short payment to Rangers FC

By Dennis Agbo

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has fulfilled a long-standing pledge by compensating members of Rangers International Football Club of Enugu for the abbreviated outgo they received from the Federal Government 48 years ago.

In 1977, erstwhile Rangers won the African Winners Cup, the Federal Government awarded the squad ₦25,000, a sum importantly little than the ₦50,000 fixed to ICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan aft their triumph successful the aforesaid contention successful 1976.

The disparity caused outrage among Ndigbo, who viewed it arsenic an enactment of unfairness and worth depreciation alternatively than appreciation. Despite years of agitation, the national authorities ne'er corrected the imbalance.

Forty-eight years later, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has stepped successful to “remedy” the injustice by paying each surviving subordinate of the victorious Rangers squad ₦1 cardinal successful designation of their publication to Igbo pridefulness and post-war resilience.

The outgo ceremony, held connected Wednesday astatine the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Secretariat successful Enugu, had successful attendance erstwhile goalkeeper Emmanuel Okala, erstwhile squad skipper Dominic Nwobodo, and different surviving members. Families and representatives of deceased players, including precocious manager Christian Chukwu, besides received payments connected behalf of their loved ones.

Speaking astatine the event, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta Mbata, said the motion was a symbolic enactment of remembrance and gratitude.

“This is simply a pledge made by the Federal Government, but it is Ohanaeze Ndigbo that is redeeming it today. If the authorities has forgotten, the Igbo volition ne'er forget,” Mbata said.

“After the civilian war, erstwhile Ndigbo were astatine their lowest ebb, Rangers International roseate arsenic a beacon of anticipation and resurgence. Their triumph rekindled our spirit. Since the authorities failed to redeem its promise, we are doing truthful today.”

Mbata added that Ohanaeze’s enactment demonstrates the Igbo doctrine of self-worth and unity, affirming that “the labours of our heroes past shall ne'er beryllium successful vain.”

In his response, ex-goalkeeper Emmanuel Okala expressed gratitude to Ohanaeze for honouring the team, describing the motion arsenic agelong overdue.

“Since 1977, immoderate of our teammates person died. It’s a large happening that I americium live to witnesser this fulfilment,” Okala said, adding that the wealth would assistance successful supporting the aesculapian needs of surviving players.

He noted that the ex-Rangers players person maintained beardown bonds done an alumni radical and are readying a remembrance lawsuit for their precocious colleagues, including Coach Chukwu.

The station Ohanaeze Ndigbo redeems FG’s 48-year-old abbreviated outgo to Rangers FC appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.