By Michael Shawon
Former Special Adviser to the Governor of Benue State Hon. Terver Akase has exited the Lobi Stars football club WhatsApp fan group following the undemocratic change of the club’s group name to a political slogan known as ‘Yes Father’.
The WhatsApp group which is controlled by the club’s management also has its supporters as members.
Hon. Akase who has been a strong supporter of the club and the organizer/funder of the weekly ‘Terver Akase Man of the Match’ awards for Lobi players, announced his decision to leave the club’s WhatsApp fan group yesterday evening.
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“Our dear Chairman/CEO and other members of this great house, good evening. I have been an ardent supporter of Lobi Stars FC over the years and I will continue to do so now and in the future.
I however seek your permission to exit this group now that it has adopted the campaign slogan of a political party.
I hope you will understand my decision to exit the group. This will in no way affect my love and support for the club”, Akase stated.
Before now, the Lobi Stars WhatsApp group had the name ‘ShoeGetSize’ which many supporters of the club across all divides cherished and admired. The name was however suddenly changed to ‘Yes Father Boys’ by the team’s management without any explanation to the fans. ‘Yes Father’ was the campaign slogan of Governor Hyacinth Alia who won the Benue state governorship on the platform of APC.
The sudden change of the club’s popular slogan has sparked reactions from many well meaning supporters who have expressed their displeasure on the WhatsApp group calling for the reinstatement of the earlier name, a plea which the club’s management is yet to act upon.
Lobi Stars of Makurdi drew away against Heartland of Owerri in thier opening NPFL game with a 2:2 shoreline.