Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, has launched a scathing attack on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Lagos State Government, accusing them of abandoning the family of late goalkeeper, Peter Rufai.
Speaking during Rufai’s burial in an interview with News Central, West described the treatment of the late football icon as a painful example of how Nigeria neglects its sporting heroes after their death.
“It’s disheartening that you have Lagos State, you have the Nigerian Football Association. They drop the bulk on the family,” West lamented.
He recalled being deeply shaken by Rufai’s passing: “My mother passed on. I never shed tears. My father passed on in my hands. I never shed tears. When Rufai passed on, I had goose pimples on my body. And every individual I’m speaking to, there were tears rolling down my cheeks. What kind of nation is this?”
The former Inter Milan defender went further to declare that he would never encourage his own son to step foot in Nigeria. “With this kind of example, I will never advise even my son to put his feet for this country. Send me out!”
Condemning the state of affairs, he added: “Do we have a Football Federation or do we have a Football Association in this Lagos State? That this hero, this soldier, this football evangelist, has to be treated this way in his family. Could you imagine that the family would be crying just to solicit within our groups to ask for money? That is madness.”
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