Wednesday, August 6, 2025 - Renowned public affairs analyst, Mahdi Shehu, has accused the Tinubu-led federal government of sending the wrong message to Nigerians by giving huge cash rewards to footballers while ignoring students, workers, and soldiers who also serve the country with dedication.
He revealed this in an interview on Tuesday.
He criticized the federal government’s generous cash rewards
to the Super Falcons after winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, saying it
demoralizes workers and students.
“You pay a footballer ₦150 million in less than two months,
but students are told to take loans to go to school. That same footballer may
not even have completed their education,”
he said.
He likened the sports industry to a lottery where a few
benefit immensely while others are left behind.
“I read a post by a soldier in Baga saying, ‘My son will
play football’ — just because of how athletes are treated. Yet, this same
soldier has dedicated his life to serving his country without ever receiving
such recognition,” he lamented.
Mahdi concluded by calling on the federal government to turn
its attention to rewarding academic excellence, specifically referencing the
young girl from Yobe State who recently won first place in an international
English competition in the UK.
“We are waiting to see what the government will do for that
girl. If nothing is done, then it confirms that the Tinubu administration is
waging a war against education. There’s no excuse.”
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