AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
Mr Sunday Oni, Labour Party candidate for Ibadan North-West/South-West Federal Constituency in the coming elections, has unveiled a new football cup for 16 teams that are billed to slug it out with one another in the Sunday Oni Football Competition within the federal constituency.
The matches, which would be played at the Adamasingba Stadium and the playing field of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, both in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, would be on for two weeks.
Explaining grounds for sponsoring the sporting competition at the press conference of the Olubadan Stadium, Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Monday, Oni recalled that “Three months ago when we came to this place, we discussed about having a football competition and I said that we would do it. We thank God that today, that dream is becoming a reality. Most of the people here are well known to me while I am just meeting a handful of them for the first time.
“I met someone yesterday who advised me to do something cogent about football. He talked about having a football competition and I told him not to go too far, that we are unveiling a football competition today (Monday, January 16). He also told me to offer free medical support to athletes and I agreed with the idea. Just that while we would get down with the football competition now, immediately after elections, all the clubs that register under the Ibadan South-West and North-West Federal Constituency would be cared for under our medical scheme.
“With this, anytime that any member of the team is down with an injury, we would treat them for free. We should guide against situations where the careers of athletes end abruptly due to injuries. I know that as we do this, other local government councils shall copy the idea for the benefit of the people in general.”
The politician said that on the day of the finals, a lot of people would be invited, “and we would seize the opportunity to talk about my political ambition. And, let me say this, there are some prizes that we did not advertise which would be given to footballers that are outstanding.”
On his contributions to the society, he said that “Hitherto, I always kept my achievements in terms of youths development, empowerment and community initiatives to my chest without hyping it, but we have realized that politics requires that we let the public know about what we are doing. I have been running a foundation for close to 20years which I did not make any noise about. I had done empowerment programmes for thousands of people, which I don’t broadcast. I shall do more.”
In an interview with Oyo Reporters, Taiwo Oloke, the Financial Secretary, Nigerian Coaches Association, Oyo State chapter, who lauded Oni’s initiative, said, “This is about fishing out and developing talents in a bid to promote football at the grassroots. We are having 16teams within the Ibadan South-West and North-West Federal Constituency. I am of the belief that if Oni wins the slot, he is going to perform sportswise because he is a lover of sports.
“Sports, football especially, is one of the unifying factors in the nation. If we can promote it, it would create greater harmony. I want to advise others to emulate honourable Sunday Oni. It is a wonderful project.”
The Secretary, Organising Committee for Sunday Oni Football Competition in the federal constituency, Bamigboye Paul Ayobamidele, stated that bringing youths together foster peace and progress. He stressed, “There are so many talents that needs this kind of platform to showcase their worth.
“I want the teams that would be participating to give their best. The benefit of this kind of initiative can be more than the price money that would be won at the end of the match. The people of the constituency, should turn out enmasse to watch the game.”
Ayo Akinyemi said, “I thank God and our honourable Reps candidate for Labour Party for this idea. This is one of the best organised event that I have seen so far. Politics is about strategy and not about parties. Some politicians would not mind the interest of the people. Now, there is a growing revolution. We want to take back what belongs to us. I want us to take the advantage of what is going on now as an opportunity to take back our country.
“I want us to seize this opportunity. Youths are the ones playing football and youths are the ones who have the nation. I say it again that this is the opportunity to take our nation back. Let the youths take the voter cards. The votes would be cast and the results would be transmitted live at all centres. Vote for your conscience.
“Most of the people in the sporting world always look for opportunity to move out of the country. But, there is nothing wrong in developing our sports. Let us vote for young blood like Sunday Oni who would legislate to rejuvenate sports. We should pray for him and others to remain focused because there is temptation in Abuja. We need to have a support group. Politics is the bedrock of development. As such, I want us to mobilize for progress.”
Stressing the importance of youths engagement via sports at the forum, Idowu Akintola, Manager, Olubadan Stadium, Ibadan, said that “If we fail to take care of our youths, nobody would. If the affluent fails to take care of the poor youths, the poor agitated youths would constitute a menace to the rich in the future. In the coming elections, we should vote for credible individuals not political parties.”
At the end of Oni’s speech, the cup for the football tournament was unveiled and handed over to the chairman of the football competition.
Each of the 16 teams expressed optimisms that they would lift the cup at the end of the tournament.
In company with Oni on the occasion were Kunle Agunloye, Segun David Olaniyan, Jamiu Saliu and a host of other political allies. Also present on the occasion is a one-time Special Adviser to former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala (now late), Akinwale Taofeek; acting Head of Football Coaches in Oyo State, Evang Akinola Olatunji; Kazeem Adeleke and Abosede Gbemileke.
