Retired Nigerian footballer, Kingsley Obiekwu who was a member of the squad which won the gold medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta has called out the government over unfulfilled promises made to him and his colleagues many years ago.
According to Obiekwu, the Nigerian government made promises which includes lands, cash prizes, and other benefits after his team emerges victorious in the 1996 Olympics which made the country proud.
In a recent interview, the former defender stated that life has been difficult for him since then and he has no choice but to go into the transport business which he use to sustain his family.
Obiekwu added that apart from the government promises, his employer is still owing him a whooping sum of six million naira (#6,000,000) which brought him to no option but to go combine coaching with his commercial transport business to earn a befitting living.
In the former defender words, he said;
“Yes, I am a commercial transporter; there is nothing to hide about it. Man has to do what is legal to pay his family bills.
“I have four children at the Enugu State University of Technology and my last child is in primary five”.
“I have coached Rangers International FC, Ifeanyi Ubah FC, Delta Force FC, Asaba, Giant Brila and also Union Sportif, Krake, Republic of Benin. All of them are owing me,”
“I am disappointed with the setup in Nigeria. How can employers be owing you and nobody is saying or doing anything about it? It’s frustrating. Even my home state, Delta, has refused to pay me.
“I can’t steal; I can’t do fraud; I can’t do money rituals. So, I have to do what is legal and possible, for me to take care of my family.
“If I can get this N6 million, I won’t be in this mess. I also go to Lagos to bring in new cars for people and they pay me. You know in Nigeria, when you retire, there’s no pension, no gratuity.”
