.Recounts ex-governor’s magnanimity
By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
A former Rangers FC player, Sylvanus Okpala, has recounted how the former Governor of Anambra State and Vice Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, has continued to promote sports in Nigeria and also support the ex-Rangers players financially and otherwise.
Okpala, who spoke at Enugu, praised Obi for his nationalist spirit.
According to him, Obi cared for all ex-Rangers players, irrespective of their tribal definition.
He said that the former governor had always been a fan of Rangers Football Club and thus, started promoting their welfare when he became a governor and even continued caring for them after he left office.
“He started paying ex-Rangers stipends every month. About a hundred of us or so; the number he could get. And he was paying not only to the Igbo who played for Rangers. Not only the Anambrarians who played for Rangers, everybody. You have some people who come from South West, some people from the North that played for Rangers whose names are there are all beneficiaries of Obi’s largess, some from Delta, Rivers, people from everywhere.
“He has been of tremendous assistance to us. He provided us with an office in Enugu, gave us a brand new bus that can take over 20 people”, Okpala said.
Okpala further recounted that beyond the material gifts, Obi gave them moral support always.
He said, “Obi gave us a lot of exposure and recognition. During his days as governor, he invited us to anything he was doing. On one occasion, we had to sleep over, when we couldn’t go back. He lodged us in an hotel. I think that was when he inaugurated Onitsha stadium.
“I don’t think he was doing it for us alone. I believe he did the same for others too. He may not like what I am saying but I feel, for him to continue doing what he has been doing for us deserves commendation. His kindness is overwhelming. Even when any one of us loses a brother, sister or any relation or you are doing anything and he hears about it, he would appear. He is too kind to us”.
Praising Obi’s humility and personality, Okpala said, “If you knew him when he was governor, his convoy never used a siren, you hardly saw a motorcade as all you would see was Obi, a support car, a security van and maybe an ambulance. There was hardly a time you saw his security men pushing people away from getting close to him.
He has always been a simple man and he took that to governance. I had met him at several airports across the country; Lagos, Enugu, Owerri airports, you would see him carrying his bag and would choose to sit in the economy class and not business class that his contemporaries would want to be. He remains very humble and a very nice human being.”