Ex-Eagles laud Tinubu’s contributions to sports

Former Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu (left); All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Austin JJ Okocha, when ex-international footballers visited Tinubu in Lagos…yesterday.

Former Nigerian international football players have commended All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asíwájú Bola Tinubu, for his contributions to democracy and good governance as well as sports development in the country.

They made the commendation when they visited him yesterday in Lagos to congratulate him on his 70th birthday, which comes up on March 29.

The ex-Super Eagles players included former Eagles’ goalkeepers — Peter Rufai, Ike Shorunmu and Dosu Joseph, ex-Eagles’ captains Austin JJ Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu, defenders: Taribo West and Uche Okechukwu, Obafemi Martins, Tijani Babangida, Victor Ikpeba and Mutiu Adepoju.

Lauding Tinubu particularly for his achievements in Lagos, Okocha said the former Lagos governor is the reason he usually calls Lagos home.

Nwankwo, who instituted the Kanu Heart Foundation, disclosed that the first seed money for that initiative was donated by Tinubu in 2002.

“Without that money, there wouldn’t have been Kanu Foundation to perform the heart surgeries that have saved many lives,” he said.

Pastor Taribo West prayed that Nigeria be blessed with more kind-hearted people like Asiwaju while wishing him well in the presidential race.

Mentioning their names one by one with their nicknames while playing for the country, Tinubu thanked them for their exploits on the field of play, for putting smiles on the faces of many and for helping to put Nigeria’s name on the global map.

He said the former players gave Nigerians a sense of immense pride and a source of inspiration, particularly the