
Late Yekini, Okwaraji, Eboigbe, and Bada’s spirits must be saying thank you to Sunday Dare
Samuel Sochukwuma Okwaraji, the dancing midfielder slumped and died on August 12, 1989, inside the main bowl of the National stadium during a World Cup qualifier against Angola. His death, sent shock waves across the nation as football fans retired to their beds, devastated, that one of Nigeria’s finest footballers has passed on, without a formal goodbye. 
His death left a yawning gap in our hearts anytime we remember his many legacies.
As if that was not enough, on May 4, 2012, another great Nigerian, the finest goal poacher this country has ever produced, the man who scored Nigeria’s first World Cup goal, the black panther and pride of Africa, Rashidi the gangling Yekini, died, leaving behind an aged mother, his siblings and millions of heartbroken supporters. 
A Nation has lost two of its finest footballers in just a spate of 24 years. During this period, sports ministers came and left without thinking of how to immortalize these heroes of our glorious past, yet we wake up daily to recite the country’s national anthem with that frustrating cliche ” *_the labor of our heroes past, shall never be in vain”
The appointment of Sunday Dare as Nigeria’s sports minister has brought light to a dark tunnel and has restored laughter to the dead even in their graves. 
On August 12, 2020, it will be 31 years since Samuel Okwaraji departed this sinful world and ever since that day, he has not had a chance to turn in his grave until a few weeks ago, when Nigeria’s sports minister Sunday Dare, honored his aged mother.
The Oyo state-born administrator gave out 50,000 nairas to the mother of Samuel Okwaraji and promised to assist with a monthly stipend of 10,000 nairas. 
He did not stop there. A few days later, Dare did the same to the aged mother of Rashidi Yekini and instructed the Nigeria football federation to follow suit with an additional 30,000 naira stipend to be paid to both women monthly, and in tears, they have not stopped showing gratitude.
From their graves, both players shook their heads in appreciation, they moved their legs as if to say thank you even as they watched their mothers shed tears of joy after years of neglect from a country that got so much from their children but offered so little.
Even in Kwara state where Rashidi Yekini hails from, nothing has been done in the form of a monument to immortalize this great football icon. Same for Samuel Okwaraji, Muda Lawal, Thunder Balogun, and many other heroes of our glorious past who died after years of patriotic service to the fatherland.
From the East, West, South, and North, the name on every lip for now, is that of Nigeria’s minister of youth and sports development.
Sunday Dare the dazzler, has dazzled Nigerians with his wisdom, he has succeeded where others failed and in less than one year, he has written his name in gold. 
Dare is here to comfort the weak, he is here to reverse abnormalities and give hope to the dejected. He has flourished where his predecessors faltered.
He is arguably the first Nigerian sports minister to invest in the welfare of Nigerian athletes past and present. The plight of sportsmen is his top priority and he seems ready to accomplish so much in just 4years.
Apart from the late Rashidi Yekini and Samuel Okwaraji who are now smiling in their graves, late Sunday Bada, an Olympic Silver medalist will also be telling the angels good things about Sunday Dare in heaven, same as the late Peter Ogaba and Ali Jeje.
Dare is not only concerned about the dead, but he is also interested in the plight of the living.
Former Super Falcons Chief coach Kadiri Ikhana is one of the latest beneficiaries, same as ex-international Sunday Eboigbe who has battled with ill health for several years with no form of support coming from anywhere.
Barely one month after he was appointed Nigeria Sports minister, Sunday Dare sprung into action by forcing the NFF to pay late Uzama Douglas’s outstanding match bonuses to his wife and three-year-old son.
Just when it seem like all hopes were lost, President Muhammadu Buhari has given Nigeria a sports minister that understands exactly what the people want, a tireless and workaholic man who is never ready to stop putting smiles on the faces of Nigerian youths.
A minister who is always on his toes looking for what next to do has found a comfort zone to excel.
He is a listening minister, a goal-getter, and a passion-driven and always-motivated personality who will stop at nothing but success and excellence.
Dare is the only man in history that satisfies the living and the dead.
From beyond, the ghosts of the faithful departed must be saying, that they are indeed very grateful to Mr Sunday Dare, the man God has appointed for a purpose.
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