Babalola Oluwatomiwa
Social Member
Okaeben said this while addressing sports journalists at the end of the "Edo Walk for Life’’ monthly exercise in Benin.
"Having learnt his lessons and shown remorse over his actions towards the coach and the team, and the fact that he is on top of his game presently, Osaze should be recalled to the Super Eagles,’’ he said.
The commissioner added that he was only soliciting for the player since he has shown patriotism and loyalty in the service to his fatherland in times past.
Odemwingie fell out of favour with the current Eagles' manager over some of the comments he posted on the social media.
Okaeben said the player had not only been an asset to the country but to Edo State as well.
He pointed out that the player had been supportive of Bendel Insurance FC’s quest to gain promotion to the elite cadre of the national football league.
"As a state, we are forever proud of our own as long as that person is contributing his own quota to the development of the state. So, we are forever proud of him.
"We have no choice other than to support him and urge the National Sports Commission (NSC), our brother Keshi and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) leadership to please see to the need why they should recall Osaze to the national team.
"This is because this will add value to the development of football in Nigeria.
"Today, he can also do for his country Nigeria what he is doing in football internationally.
"We are lending our voice, we are appealing, and we are not imposing it on them.
"But I want to strongly say that our brother, who is the coach of the national team, is a product of this stadium (Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium) that we are standing here today, and this makes him the son of Benin Kingdom.
"I join voices with every average Edo man to appeal to him (Keshi) to please extend the hands of fellowship to our brother and son, Osaze Odemwingie, and ask him to come contribute his best to our nation,’’ Okaeben said.
"Some may tend to see him as a proud person, but I am proud to say that an average Edo man is a proud man, which is what makes us number one and also what we are.
"But, of course, this has not in any way reduced or undermined the fact that he is an asset to football development in Nigeria and will contribute to the Super Eagles’ success in Brazil,” the commissioner said.
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