Rashidi Oshoba, widely recognized as Nigeria’s first Olympic torchbearer, has opened up about what he described as a series of promises allegedly made to him by former President Muhammadu Buhari during a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja nearly a decade ago.
The veteran sportsman recounted the experience in a recent interview from 3:05 with Punch, claiming that he was invited to meet the late president in 2016 and was assured that his contributions to Nigerian sports would receive official recognition and substantial rewards from the Federal Government.
According to Oshoba, the meeting represented a significant moment in his life and career. Having spent years advocating for greater support and recognition for retired athletes, he said he left the Presidential Villa with renewed hope that longstanding challenges affecting him would finally be addressed.
The former athlete explained that during the meeting, Buhari reportedly acknowledged his role in Nigerian sporting history and expressed a willingness to ensure that he was adequately compensated for his contributions to the country.
Oshoba claimed that the discussion included promises of financial support as well as other benefits that he believed would improve his quality of life and secure his future
Recalling the encounter, he said the former president informed him that the government intended to provide compensation and that he sought clarification regarding the amount involved before the meeting concluded.
“I saw late Buhari in person in 2016 inside the Aso Rock Villa. He promised to compensate me and I thanked him. I asked him how much the total money was and he said it was N920,000,000. I thanked him again. He also said he would give me a house in all the states in the country, an official car, and that I would become chairman of the Nigeria Olympic Committee,” Oshoba stated.
The former sportsman said the assurances extended beyond monetary compensation.
According to him, he was told that housing would be provided across Nigeria’s states, that he would receive an official vehicle, and that he would eventually be appointed to a prominent leadership position within the country’s sports administration.
For Oshoba, the promises represented what he believed was long-overdue recognition of his achievements and sacrifices in service to Nigerian sports. He said he expected the commitments to be implemented within a reasonable period after the meeting.
However, years after the encounter, Oshoba says none of the pledges have materialized. He expressed disappointment that despite the commitments he claims were made at the highest level of government, he has not received the compensation, appointments, or benefits he was allegedly promised.