A
homeless para-table tennis player, Muritala Ibrahim, 42, who had won Nigeria
medals, died at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, where he lived for many
years.
Ibrahim,
as a patriotic citizen, had represented Nigeria in para-table tennis
championships in Barcelona 1992 Olympics, Atlanta 1996 Olympics and Sydney 2000
Olympics where he won silver medals for his country.
The way and manner Ibrahim lived in abject
poverty and squalor brings to bare how Nigeria caters for her heroes
Ibrahim
was said to have taken ill on Sunday night and died shortly after for lack of
medical attention.
However,
the Lagos Liaison Officer of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mr Tayo
Oreweme, expressed shock over Ibrahim’s death and condoled with his
relations.
It
is unimaginable that successive government neglected the deceased for so long.
It
is worthy of asking, if there is reincarnation, and one is allowed to make a
choice, whether Ibrahim would be among those who would choose Nigeria as a place
of birth?
Rest
in peace .
