Protesting FC Taraba players have vowed to stay put at the gate of government house until the governor addresses their 11-month salaries plight.
The demoted side slept in the open cold weather on Monday night as they reconvened after government failed to honour their words to pay four-month of the 11-month salaries excluding match bonuses.
A key player of the Jalingo side who wished not to be named said they are determined to continue with the open tent nonviolent demonstration as long as it takes the governor to hear them out for once as well as proffer immediate solution to their sufferings.
“Of course, we passed the night (Monday) outside the gate of the government house in Jalingo and I tell you we are not ready to leave the spot or hear anybody’s appeal but the governor himself coming out to address and come up with instant remedy to our plight.
“Yesterday (Monday) the Commissioner for Sports came to address us but we told him plainly that we do not believe in him as his past promises have not yielded any respite for us.
“Later the Commissioner of Police came to inquire what the issues were and thereafter he reminded the Sports Commissioner on the need to do the needful as our presence constitutes a threat to security.
“However, unlike the previous protest in which some military men molested and manhandled us the Police men were sympathetic to our plight and actually provided security for us during the night.
“So we are continuing with the protest and will not vacate the gate even in ten-year time to see the governor.
“We are living dead so it does not matter anymore if the security men decide to come and shoot us.
“There is nothing human in us anymore so it’s better we die in the open and in the hands of our employers than to die in our quite respective homes,” said the distraught player to supersport.com.
FC Taraba lost their top flight status at the end of the 2014/15 NPFL season and may not be allowed to register in the Nigeria National League (NNL) except government moves fast to offset its indebtedness to the players.