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Rufai, others decry absence of sports personalities’ posters from Lagos at 50

By Gowon Akpodonor
28 April 2017   |   3:40 am
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai is not happy with Lagos State government over the missing posters of sports men and women on the street of Lagos, as the state is celebrating its 50th anniversary in grand style.

Peter Rufai

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai is not happy with Lagos State government over the missing posters of sports men and women on the street of Lagos, as the state is celebrating its 50th anniversary in grand style.

Lagos State was one of the 12 states created on May 27 1967 by General Yakubu Gowon’s administration. Lagos is the only one that was never split in subsequent state creation exercises, and the state governor Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode is rolling out the drums in celebration.

From Ikorodu to Ketu, Ojota to Third Mainland Bridge, Western Avenue to Lagos Island, Lekki to Ajah, different posters of people are being rolled out. And according to those organising the celebration, the people have contributed to the success of Lagos in the past 50 years.

However, Rufai, who is also known as ‘Dodo Mayana,’ is unhappy with the organisers over the missing posters of sports men and women, whom he said, have contributed more to the success story of Lagos in its 50 years.

Speaking with The Guardian at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, Rufai, who won the African Nations Cup at Tunisia ’94, and was part of the Super Eagles to USA ’94 and France ’98 FIFA World Cup, said that he was surprised to see that sports personalities are not included among the various posters doting every parts of Lagos for the celebration.

Speaking further, Rufai, arguably the best Nigerian goalkeeper of all time said: “Ever since these posters started showing up along major streets in the city, I have been watching out for those of sports personalities, but I have not seen a single one. I have asked questions about it and no one seems to be giving me an answer.”

Like Rufai, some other Nigerians who spoke with The Guardian expressed worry that Lagos State would be rolling out names of people to celebrate its 50th anniversary without posters of people like Teslim Balogun, Haruna Ilerika, Segun Odegbami, Stephen Keshi, Jay Jay Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Tunde Disu, Peter Rufai, Mary Onyali, Falilat Ogunkoya, Samson Siasia, Sunday Bada, Yemi Tella, Henry Nwosu, Amaju Pinnick, Seyi Akinwunmi, Solomon Ogba, Florence Omagbemi, Dosu Joseph, Ann Chijine, Asisat Oshola, Mikel Obi, Aruna Quadri and Segun Toriola among other sports personalities who turned the National Stadium in Surulere into a ‘place of warship’ for many Nigerians in their active days.

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