Striker's Nigerian kinsmen call for reconciliation

Nigerian kinsmen of Togolese striker, Emmanuel Adebayor have expressed sadness over the player's recent troubles with his family and call for reconcilation.

Adebayor is originally from in Igbaye, Odo Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria but was born and brought up in Togo, the country he represents.

The former Arsenal striker through a series of Facebook post has opened up about the messy details behind the relationship between him and his immediate family members.

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Relatives of the footballer’s late father, Shadrach Adebayo Adeyi who is from Eesa compound, one of the largest families in Igbaye have waded into the issue, asking for reconcilation.

Speaking to head of the Eesa family, Pa Nathaniel Okunlola revealed that though they have cut ties with Adebayor and his family, they have also been saddened by the recent controversies surrounding the Adebayors.

Pa Nathaniel disclosed to Punch that they cut ties with the Adebayors because they chose to bury their father in Togo rather than at his hometown in Osun State.

According to Punch report, the Adebayors were raised in Togo after their father left Ghana, when former Ghana President Jerry Rawlings drove illegal Nigerian immigrants out of the country.

“We are not happy about the development and we are appealing to them to stop the show of shame. I am sure their father, Shadrach, will not be happy in his grave. It is disturbing when siblings engage in this kind of dirty fight," Pa Nathaniel told Punch in an interview.

“There is no family where there are no issues but such issues are not made public. I believe it is the handiwork of the devil. The devil will always want to cause division where there is unity and they just have to realise this and forgive one another. They can still come together and forget the past.

Pa Nathaniel also pleaded the former African Footballer of the Year to come back home and re-establish relationship with his father's family.

"Our family here in Igbaye wants them to come home and do something (to re-establish their father’s legacy). They can rebuild their father’s house," Pa Nathaniel said.

"Their father, Shadrach, built a house here when he was living in Ghana. They can rebuild it or build their own. We are proud of them and even if they will not come, they should stop the fight. We are begging them in the name of God.”

Other family members from Nigeria- a cousin named John Odesola and a resident of Igbaye, Kunle- also reiterated Pa Nathaniel's appeal for the Adebayors to settle their differences.

Adebayor seems to have made the move to settle with his family members after his revelations on Facebook.

The striker like we reported earlier was in undefined.

He also shared some food items among the excited locals.