A RECKLESS PURSUIT OF CHEAP POPULARITY AT THE EXPENSE OF DESTROYING INSTITUTIONS?
I have served this country faithfully and loyally in sports for about forty years. I have brought Nigeria medals in many categories at the African continental level, plus historic recognition at the international level up to the stage of the World Cup and the Olympics.
And many others too have done even far more than my humble self for Nigerian sports.
Yet, neither I personally nor any member of that neglected group to which I belong, have ever received any government acknowledgement of our sacrifices and efforts, talk less of being mentioned in conversations about national awards such as MON etc.
ENTER THE SECOND PLACED SUPER EAGLES AT THE 2024 AFCON.
For placing second, they have received considerable financial rewards and the gratitude of an adoring nation.
But perhaps more significantly, they received a national award MON. And it is this MON award that has stirred a lot of controversy. Because many view it as the desperate over compensation by a political class, desperate to gain popularity by any and all means, and anxious to divert the people’s attention (even if temporarily), from the myriads of social and economic problems that seem to defy solution by them.
AND WHY ARE PEOPLE STRONGLY OF THIS OPINION?
1) Since we have actually won AFCON at least thrice before, what is so special about coming second (which we have the capacity to regularly and routinely do), to warrant awarding MON for that level of performance?
2) If you now set the award of MON as the standard yardstick of reward for coming second in AFCON, are you willing to do so every time a Nigerian football team comes second in any Continental or international competition? What national award do you now give, if a subsequent team of Super Eagles go and win the AFCON? Do you award them GCFR? 🤷🏾♂️
3) And what about other sports such as basketball, where the national women’s team has been back to back African Champions (the equivalent of AFCON champions) for the past three editions in a row back to back? How do you justify not awarding MON to them too, or even higher to reward their three-peat?
4) By awarding MON for a second place AFCON finish, do you not ridicule and belittle the value of that national honor? And do you not dishonor those who rightfully earned the award only after a lifetime of excellence and service to Nigeria? Since we now give the same honor to an AFCON silver medallist, who may not even have played in any match during the few weeks he was on that team (as is the case here)?
CONCLUSION.
My opinion on this matter is not based on personal sentiments about how I and other deserving patriots may have been mistreated. And it is not out of a grudge against the 2024 Super Eagles and the long standing gross imbalance in Government’s support for football, over other sports. Neither is it borne out of political bias or dissatisfaction with the general performance of the present government. Although the good Lord knows that there is plenty to complain about in that regard.
Rather please treat this as a cry appealing for the following:
1) A stop to the trivializing of National awards, as a tool for cheap political gains.
2) An appeal for the government to pay at least commensurate (even if not equal) attention to other sports aside from football. The government should realize that there is a vast proportion of our population (especially our youth and entrepreneurs) whose fortunes are tied to these other ‘lesser’ sports. And that the financial and business potentials are vast, if these other sports can be supported and encouraged similar to football.
The Oracle has spoken.
