Former Super Eagles Coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, has urged the Federal Government to use the unifying factor in sports, especially football, to dispel the growing agitations for secession in the country.
The Indegenous People of Biafra has been agitating for secession of the South-East for a long time and some Yoruba self-determination groups have also begun their agitation.
But Onigbinde, who coached the national team to the 2002 World Cup, said sports could be used to doused ethnic tension and unite the country.
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He spoke in Osogbo on Wednesday after he was unveiled as the Brand Ambassador of Osun State College of Technology Academy of Science and Sport, Esa Oke, Osun State.
He explained that Nigerians did not see ethnic groups of national team players whenever they represent the country.
Onigbinde said, “When you go into sports particularly football, when you raise a national team, it will comprise players from Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and other ethnic groups.
” There is no tribalism in the selection of the national teams. The same thing goes for the spectators. If Nigeria handles sports the way it ought to be handled, it will address a lot of our problems like political, security and social problems.
“My people are now agitating to exit Nigeria, I pity them most, I have talked to some of the people that are leading this agitation.
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” I asked them that you are looking for freedom and if it leads to war can anybody assure me that Modakeke and Ife will go the same way?
” Ijebu Remo and Ijebu Ode; Offa and Erin-Ile and others, are they going to go the same way. But sports will engender unity in Nigeria.”
The Rector of the Osun Stage College of Technology, Eaa Oke, Dr Samson Adegoke, in his address, said the school would be a unique one because it would combine everything but with emphasis on teaching science subjects.
“We are here to unveil the baby of the revolution, a secondary school with a difference. The secondary school is going to admit students into JSS1 and SS1 in the next academic session starting in October 2021. It will be full boarding for both male and female.
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“It is a bi-lingual secondary school that will make the study of French language: compulsory. It will focus on science education and will help to nurture the potential of students in any sporting event of his/her choice.”
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