Anyone who makes this country proud will no longer be a beggar, says Jonathan

President Jonathan has promised sportsmen that he will institute a special fund for training before budget approval and will also make sure that “anybody who makes this country proud will not be a beggar”.

Jonathan was speaking on Saturday after a long trek from the presidential villa to Eagle Square, organised by non-governmental organisation, Desire for Greatness Organisation, to show solidarity with his presidential race.

At the rally was Nnamadi Sambo, the vice president; David Mark, senate president; Peter Obi, former Anambra state governor; Osita Chidoka, minister of Aviation, and other top government officials.

The president promised a special fund for sporting activities if re-electe.

“To strengthen sporting activities in Nigeria further, there are some areas that we need to look into and I promise that when we come back, we are going to set up a special fund that will handle these special areas,” he said.

“I have identified about five areas that we must look at. I realised that sometimes when we have major tournaments, because of government budgeting and files movement, training periods are delayed.

“We want to make sure that we stop that by setting up a special fund that can serve as a stop gap. Another area is that some of them get injured and can no longer participate and sometimes, they are left on their own. We must get some funds to take care of such people.

“Another one that I have identified is that some people have made this country proud. Sport is one key thing that brings unity to this country. Whenever our sportsmen are playing, we don’t discriminate. We must set up a fund to make sure that nobody who had made this country proud will be a beggar.”

The vice president who also spoke at the solidarity trek, urging Nigerians to support the Goodluck-Sambo re-election project.

“Our president is young and I don’t think this country deserves a 73-year old president,” he said.

Jonathan also promised sportsmen special training programmes to improve on their professional career and strengthen sports institutions such as the National Sports Institute in Lagos, and the Centre of Excellence in Abuja.

Sportsmen who were present at the trek include Kanu Nwakwo, Victor Ikpeba, Mary Onyali, Peter Rufai and Joseph Yobo.

Former super eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, who spoke at the event, said sportsmen in the country “cannot allow Jonathan go until his good work is done in 2019”.