Mr Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has defended the largesse offered to the Super Falcons for emerging victorious at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
It would be recalled that Tinubu gave each of the players $100,000 (About N150m). He gave each coach and support staff member $50,000 (N75M)
In addition, each of the Falcons will be allocated a three-bedroom apartment under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Housing Scheme.
He also conferred on the players and their handler the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
Many Nigerians criticised the financial largesse as too much to be offered to the players at a time the country is struggling financially.
However, Onanuga, in a post on his X handle, dismissed the criticisms.
Onanuga drew a parallel between what Tinubu gave and what a reality TV show, BBNaija, is offering to its winner.
He reminded Nigerians that the winner of the show will be going home with a N150 million grand prize.
He said in the context of this, it was befuddling that some Nigerians were still questioning President Tinubu’s rewards to the Super Falcons.
He said Tinubu had simply rewarded admirable human qualities, such as excellence, creativity, soccer artistry, hard work, and the undying Nigerian spirit.
