Former Senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sanu, lamented the death of Super Eagles legendary goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, who recently got laid to rest.

MyNigeria reported that former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West, expressed bitterness at the way Rufai and his family were abandoned during the deceased's burial.

"For me, it is disheartening that you have Lagos State, you have Nigeria Football Association... they dropped the buck on the family. I felt in my spirit that there is nothing to put your life for. That's why I said I have to shift back so I will not implode. It's griefing," West said.

"My mother passed on, I never shed tears. My father passed on in my hands, I never shed tears. But when Rufai passed on, I had goose pimples on my body. And every individual I was speaking to... there were tears rolling down my cheeks. What kind of nation is this?"

He went on to reveal that other Super Eagles legends also suffered the same fate as Rufai.

"With this kind of example they have shown in Shofoluwe, in Stephen Keshi of blessed memory, Thompson Oliha, Rashidi Yekini, I will never advise even my son to put his feet for this country.

"Do we have a football federation or do we have a football association in this Lagos State that this hero, this soldier, this football evangelist had to be treated this way and his family?

"Could you imagine that his family cried just to solicit money within our group. Please, let me go, I don't want to pour my heart away," he said.

Reacting, Shehu Sani expressed displeasure at how some Nigerians criticised the Federal Government for giving $100k to each of the players in the Super Falcons and D'Tigress teams for their success in African tournaments.

"Many of our great footballers and other sportsmen who played for the National team, and once made us proud, either die in abject poverty or were neglected when they got out of form, And the irony is that some are still critical of the amount rewarded for the Falcons and D’Tigress. May the soul of Peter Rufai rest in peace as he is laid to rest," he shared on X.

ASA