By Philips Adefioye
Former Governor of old Gongola state, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur has described the state of sports in the country as not too impressive as he expressed his dissatisfaction over the country’s non qualification of for the just conclude Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
Alhaji Tukur, who emerged the National Chairman of the ruling party, the PDP last week made this known to Sunday Vanguard sports in a recent interview during a symposium of National League of Veteran Journalists in Lagos, said sports has lost its glory compared to the days when the country’s athletes were always at the forefront at international competitions.
The former Minister for Commerce hinted that what the country needs in rediscovering the lost glory is awareness by which the youths will be shown how sports is important in the business of nation building.
“The state of Nigerian sports is very low, awareness is the watchword. I want Nigerians to be aware of the importance of sports to us.
“It is better to be late than never. If our football teams failed to qualify for the Olympics this year, it doesn’t mean that we should not prepare our young men and women for the next Olympic Games?
“I felt bad not to see the Nigerian flag hoisted at the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations. I believe that all Nigerians were also not happy watching the Nations Cup on television without their country”,he said.
Alhaji Tukur figured out that the only way that Nigeria can regain her brilliant days in sports is through the collective will of the people to sustain sports activities and being transparent in every area of the game, adding, “ we should all make a vow to bring out our best in sports in all ramifications”.
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Bamanga Tukur laments state of Nigerian sports