First son of late former Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi, Stephen Keshi Jr. has blasted the Federal Government of Nigeria over their failure to fulfill their promises to give the late ‘Big Boss’ a state burial.
Keshi, who died last month, is currently being buried in his hometown of Illah, in Delta State.
The Federal Government through the sports ministry had promised to give the former Nigeria captain a state burial following his death, only to state 72 hours to the funeral that they will honour the ‘Big Boss’ after Nigeria’s participation at the Olympic Games.
“We don’t want a haphazard burial for such a great patriot, which is why the minister of sports, Solomon Dalung, has said the FG will play its own part after the Olympics,” Nneka Ikem Anibeze, media aide to sports minister Solomon Dalung was quoted as saying.
Reacting to the decision of the federal government to pull out, Keshi Jr. says it leaves their family disappointed, adding that the Nigerian government should be ashamed of itself.
I sat in front of the federal government on national television a few weeks ago and they promised they would honor pops the way he deserves. They said that he has done to much for the country for them not to. They made us change dates to fit the federal governments schedule. But they didn't do as promised, we aren't mad, nor sad, just disappointed, they should be ashamed of themselves. This sends a terrible message to our youth that are striving to do great things for Nigeria. The good thing is that We was raised not to ask for handouts. There will be no more postponements, today the funeral ceremonies began in Benin, the place he loved, where his career started. My sisters, brother and I held it down, with the help of a few others, and now we are putting our pops to rest. We don't owe anyone shit and we can say they owe pops everything. No salt, it is not the people's fault, we still love Nigeria as pops did.
This post first appeared on Wolexis Sports Blog | Nigeria's Online Sports Mag, please read the originial post: here
