Youths in the country have been called upon to desist from engaging in kidnapping and other negative vices in order to be useful to the society.
Former Governor of Delta State Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan made the call while playing host to ex Nigerian international footballer Christian Obodo.
Dr Uduaghan while congratulating the ex Nigerian international for his success in his footballing career urged him to mentor younger footballers especially those with the zeal to be great through football, as he sued for youths in various states across the country to put their energies into positive ventures eschewing kidnapping and other negative vices.
“ Let me congratulate you on your zeal, determination and desire to succeed in life, you have shown to every one that your background is not an hindrance to what you can archive in life, as someone who grew up with us here in Warri, we have monitored and seen how you have been able to build a successful career for yourself and you did it through hard work and dedication with out looking for an easy way out.
I want to urge you to try in all sincerity to go back to your roots and see how you can be of help to most of the youths there with your experience and story, I’m sure you will be a good ambassador and motivation to them”
The ex Nigerian international , Christian Obodo who started his professional football career with Plateau Untied as a central midfielder also played for different European clubs including the likes of Lecce ,Udinese,
Torino FC, AC Perugia ,Fiorentina In the Italian serie A and Apollon in Greece said he was at the residence of former Delta State Governor Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan to thank him for the fatherly role the Governor played when he was kidnapped by some hoodlums in times past.
He further stated that he had retired from active football and now intend to run a football Acedmy that will help the nation produce the next generation of football stars.
Obodo also admonished youths in the state to shun nefarious activities such as kidnapping to avoid being killed.
