African Winners Cup 1977 gold medalist, Arthur Ebunam, says there is no division in Veteran Rangers camp following the Super Minimum wage approved for them by Anambra State governor, Charles Soludo.
Ebunam called me to clarify the kind gesture of the Professor of Economics who gave the former Flying Antelopes stars a pleasant surprise by increasing their monthly stipend from 15,000 naira to 100, 000 naira, a package that is higher than what the Federal Government was dangling before workers.
Ebunam said: “There’s nothing to worry about, Gov. Soludo simply relied on the existing list of Veterans under the payroll of the Anambra State government which was approved during the tenure of Peter Obi and continued under the administration of Willie Obiano.”
Some ex-Rangers players domiciled overseas, bewailed their exclusion from the new pay package, arguing bethat some of them had been out of job and many were suffering soccer induced ailments as a result of their time in the Coal City team.
“We should rather applaud the governor. When Kenneth Abana lost his famous right leg to amputation, there was a general outcry. Soludo took his time before making a decision and he is not done yet. There are better days for all those of us who sacrificed for Rangers.
“The governor plans to visit his colleague South-East governors to work out a bumper package for everyone. So far, only the Anambra State government has been shouldering the responsibility of Old Rangers. Governor Obi bought a bus for us,” Ebunam added.
Yes, we have to praise the Anambra State government, beginning from the period Obi was in charge. He appointed Nnamdi ‘Camel’ Nwokocha, Special Adviser on Sports. When the former striker died, Ebunam was picked as replacement.
As Obi was leaving office, he pleaded with Obiano to continue with the tradition of appointing a Rangers Veteran as Special Adviser, Sports. That was how Emma Okala got the job. Soludo came, did not keep to that tradition.
However, Soludo has a different plan which is also beneficial. When the 58 registered Veterans paid him a courtesy visit recently, he rewarded each of them handsomely with 200 percent of the proposed new stipend. That was not all. Everyone of them left Awka with 50 kg bag of rice.
Ebunam explained further : “I am in touch with some of our colleagues overseas and I have painted a true picture of the new plan before them. Those of them living abroad have Health Insurance. Soludo also wants to introduce it here to take care of Veterans in Nigeria.
“What happened was that when some of us heard that Soludo had increased the stipend from 15,000 naira to 100,000, everyone suddenly realised that they played for Rangers. Even those who were not attending meetings began to draw closer.”
I cannot but take a second look at Ebunam’s logic. Soludo cannot pay all those who ever played for Rangers. The list has been pruned to players who featured from 1970 to 1980. Other South-East governors only wore Rangers colours to woo voters.
In Enugu, headquarters of the Veterans, immediate past governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi promised to build a befitting Hall of Fame for Rangers. He spent eight years and did nothing towards realising that dream. Before him, Sullivan Chime proved unreachable.
Governors of other states stayed away too.
Abia leaders have Enyimba to contend with. In Imo, all eyes are on Heartland. The story of Rangers, Heartland and Enyimba cannot be told without recognising Chief Jerry Enyeazu, the founder of all three clubs.
Rangers rekindled the Igbo never say never spirit after the Civil War. And besides Enyeazu, the founder, the man who brought most of the funds, was Chief A. W. Ibe, from Abia. The coach who moulded the squad, Dan Anyiam, was an Imo man.
Ebunam, began the moves that Obi bought into. He also moved again through the deputy governor of Anambra State, Dr. Onyeka Ibezim who drew governor Soludo’s attention. Ebunam expects other veterans to talk to their governors.
“The Anambra State government should be celebrated. We have players like Harrison Mecha and Stanley Okoronkwo, from Abia, Emma Osigwe, from Imo, Christian Chukwu, Francis Nwosu, Luis Igwilo, Benedict Ugwu, from Enugu, Johnny Azinge, from Delta and even a South-Westerner, Hakeem Ashiru, benefiting.”
