Ohanaeze Ndigbo remedies FG's 48 years short payment of Rangers FC

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has made up the short payment made to the players of Rangers International Football Club of Enugu by the federal government of Nigeria when the club won the African winners cup in 1977.

The federal government has paid Twenty-five thousand naira (N25,000) to the club when it won the African trophy in 1977 as against Fifty thousand naira (50,000) the same government paid to the ICC Shooting stars of Ibadan when it won the same trophy in 1976.

Ndigbo felt bad at the value depreciation instead of appreciation of the monetary value of the trophy. They agitated, complained but was not remedied by the federal government.

48 years after, Ndigbo said they have not forgotten the football club that rejuvenated their spirit after their defeat in the Nigeria -Biafra war, and now made it up by paying the ex-football players the sum of one million naira (N1,000,000) each.

Among the ex-Rangers FC players who confirmed receipt of the sums in a ceremony at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Secretariat in Enugu, on Wednesday, included former goal keeper, Emmanuel Okala, former Rangers Skipper, Dominic Nwobodo (Chairman) and some others who could attend the ceremony.

Some other ex-players who are dead such as Coach Christian Chukwu were either represented by proxies or their wives, children and relatives.

Speaking at the ceremony, the President General Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Senator John Azuta Mbata said that if the federal government has forgot, the Igbo would never forget.

"This is a typical Nigeria thing. This is a pledge made by the federal government but it is Ohanaeze Ndigbo that is redeeming the pledge today. This is to further show how Igbo affairs are not of interest to Nigeria. One who is rejected does not reject himself.

"Rangers International Football Club of Nigeria, immediately after the civil war, when America and Britain collaborated and defeated the Igbo in the war, at that lowest ebb of Ndigbo after their defeat, Rangers FC rose up as a beacon of light, as beacon of strength, hope and as a beacon of resurgence at that ebb of the Igbo history.

"They won the intercontinental cup and the government made a promise to give them N25,000 each. That promise was never redeemed. Since the government has refused to redeem it, the Igbo people will redeem it. Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide as an organization watching out for the interest of people all over the world is standing in today to redeem that pledge.

"Let it be heard all over the world that the Igbo will never forget Rangers. All those people who fought gallantly, who played for Rangers, whether dead or alife, Ohanaeze will honour them today. That is why we have gathered out of 19 of them that played, eight of them are still alife while 11 of them are demised. Whether they are dead or alife, Ohanaeze will remember them. The labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain and so it shall be for Rangers players," Mbata prayed.

Responding, ex-goal keeper, Emmanuel Okala said it was a great thing that he was still alife to witness the fulfillment, pledging that they will utilize the money in their medical up keeps.

"Since 1977, some of our people are dead, it was N25,000 and now it has been made manifest," Okala appreciated.

He stated that they have ex-Rangers group which has kept them united while they are planning remembrance of their lost colleagues such as Coach Christian Chukwu whom he said he wished was alive to witness the fulfillment.