It’s unfortunate our Super Eagles are being owed – Peter Obi

In a statement on his verified X account on Wednesday, Mr Obi lamented that a country that finds resources for “needless lavish spending” cannot meet its obligations to athletes who represent it with pride. Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the federal government over the non-payment of allowances owed to the Super Eagles, describing the situation as “truly unfortunate” and symptomatic of Nigeria’s governance failures. In a statement on his verified X account on Wednesday, Mr Obi lamented that a country that finds resources for “needless lavish spending” cannot meet its obligations to athletes who represent it with pride. “It is truly unfortunate that our Super Eagles, who consistently give their best in representing our dear nation, are being owed their allowances,” Mr Obi wrote. “We always seem to find money to waste on needless lavish spending and political patronage, yet we cannot pay those who patriotically raise our flag, bring us pride, and serve with dedication. That is what is found in a now disgraced country.” The former Anambra governor said the development reflects a deep moral problem in Nigeria’s governance culture. “When those who serve their country are not treated with dignity, it sends the wrong message to our youth — that hard work and service are not rewarded. Those who represent Nigeria deserve to be paid promptly and treated with respect. We must do better,” he added. Mr Obi’s statement comes amid an ongoing crisis in the Super Eagles’ camp in Rabat, Morocco, where players and officials boycotted training on Tuesday over long-standing unpaid bonuses and allowances. The players who threatened not to train until the Nigeria Football Federation settles its debts, have made peace with the federation, after the boycott initially casted a shadow on the Preparations ahead of today’s games.