A large group of sober sports personalities including members of the Ghana Football Supporters club, accompanied by members of Nigeria’s foremost football fans group, the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, as well as, the wife of the late Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, were at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to receive the body of the deceased boxer.
Speaking with journalists at the venue, National Chairman of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Rev. (Amb) Samuel Ikpea, in an emotion laden tone, described the death of the late boxer as a painful and unfortunate incident that could have been prevented.
“There has been several reasons given by the people on what could have caused the death of Segun Olanrewaju. No matter the excuses or reasons, I believe the incident was avoidable, if necessary precautions had been taken.
“However, this is not the moment to share blames. What we all should do is to put on our usual garb of human kindness, love and support for the family of the late boxer, particularly, his wife and children.
“The late boxer was out to eke a living for his family before he met his untimely death. Therefore, as good people, we shouldn’t let his family suffer,” Ikpea advised.
Ikpea went ahead to admonish the leadership of the National Sports Commission, to come up with strict requirements and expectations for compliance by sports administrators and events organisers, as it concerns safety and welfare of Nigerian athletes before, during and after sporting events.
