By Douglas Ogbankwa
As a Young Boy in Benin , I was so inspired by Nigeria’s participation in the Olympics in Barcelona ’92 , that I wanted to be a Sports Journalist.I became a Sports Analyst so, much so that my class mates named me “FIFA”.
At Atlanta 96 , Nigeria won her first individual gold medal in an Olympic Event , when Mbaise’s gift to the World Retired Deputy Commissioner of Police Chioma Ajunwa won Gold in the women long jump event , displacing the then World Champion -Fiona Mays of Italy .
In the same Olympics,Falilat Ogunkoya took a silver in the Women 400 Metres Event,the Dream Team won the football gold , Nigeria took bronze in boxing and Nigeria’s Male 4 by 100 relay team, made up of the Ezinwa brothers- Davidson and Oswald Ezenwa, Olapade Adenikan and another took a medal at the finals of the event. The 4 by 400 relay team, led by Commissioner of Police Retired Sunday Bada won a silver medal that was upgraded to gold following the disqualification of the disgraceful US doping quartet led by Michael Johnson .
Earlier in Barcelona ’92, the Mary Onyali led a fantastic 4 by 100 relay team which includes Faith Idehen and others that created one of the most phenomenal moments of the Olympics till day when they won bronze, but they celebrated the most, creating the Olympic Cliche: “You don’t need to come first to win”. That celebration is an iconic piece of history used as a symbol of the Olympics Spirit.
Isaac Ikuoria had won one of Nigeria’s earliest medal at the Olympics, a Bronze and Nigeria had great Olympics greats like Innocent Egbunike, Chidi Imoh for Athletics,Atanda Musa for table tennis, Daniel,Peter Koyekwachi for Boxing ,Kanu Nwankwo for Football, Igali for wrestling, Chuka Chukwumerije for Takwaedo, etc.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Nigeria went to the Olympics with 82 Athletes, but more officials than that number. On the whole, the country frittered away 12 Billion Naira in a fruitless project, that has become a wild goose chase.
President Tinubu gave them all the support they needed, but the Sports Officials like vultures feasted on the Nigerian Team and made Nigeria a laughing stock. Even a small Island of St Lucia, which is not up to the population of people in a part of Lekki in Lagos, won gold medal!
The Sports Federations populated by Politicians and bureaucrats have turned Nigeria Sports to another honey pot. They see it as part of the national cake. So, at the end, national interests take a back seat.See the disgraceful conduct of the Nigeria Olympic Committee Officials not registering favour Ofili for the 100 Metres event at the Paris Olympic, because the original list sent by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria was tampered with by officials of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC).
Habu Gumel has been holding the position of NOC President for decades.Is it his father’s property? He needs to leave to make way for others.;The Minister of Sports Senator Enoh is inept and incompetent. Pele was Minister of Sports in Brazil .You can not give a carpenter your car to fix and expect a good job. We need square pegs in square holes.
Another disgrace was the sordid State of the First Nigerian to Participate in the Cycling Event at the Paris Olympics borrowing a bicycle from the German Contingent. You could also see the disgraceful scenario of the Nigerian Basket Ball Team not being allowed to join their colleagues in what I will call the “boat re getti” that the match past of the opening ceremony was.
Nigerian Participation in the Olympics was a charade and jamboree.The officials do not even have conscience.It is any thing goes.It is more like Nigeria Olympic Corruption (NOC).The Police used to produce a chunk of our Athletes, but they handed over Police Sports to Police Bureaucrats. Now, Nigeria Police Sports is a sham.The current IGP can do something about it but allowing real Sports People to run Police Sports.Even Retired Police Officials can act as Consultants.Imagine having someone like DCP Chioma Ajunwa Rtd and CP Sunday Bada in the fold of Police Sports.The rest will be history.
The Nigeria Police has the highest constellation of Stars in Nigeria Sports. Whether Nigeria will do well or not in Sports is tied to Police Sports, as the Police are the only who knew their onions .
We also need to go back to School Sports.In this regard, we must rejuvenate the School Sports Federation of Nigeria (SSFN) and Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria (YSFON ).All schools in Nigeria must do compulsory inter house sports and they should compete with one another in the Schools Games.The Principal Cup for football should be resuscitated. We remember the Successes of Chief Ayela Uwangua in Edo state, who was one of the eggheads of the Schools Sports Federations of Nigeria.
We remember Group Captain Emeka Omerua, Group Captain Brai Ayonete , Chief Alex Akinyele as eggheads in grassroots sports development
Politicians Should not be allowed to infiltrate our Sports. At the Olympics, IOC Members were all former Sports Men and Sports Women, but here, the brother of Governor, inlaw of the Governor or some times, the Governor himself are the Sports Officials.
Olympic is a four year cycle.If we must start our preparations, let us start now.
The Nigerian Team at the Olympics were like cheer leaders.No medal , no climbing of the podium. Most of the Officials were sleeping in their hotels and collecting estacodes. We have no patriotism in Nigeria and all the Presidents of the Sports Federations should bury their heads in shame.In a sane country, by now, they should have all resigned.
But they do not have honour.It is only honour that brings glory.That is why in our national pledge we say, “To Uphold your honour and glory, to serve Nigeria with all my strength”
We changed our national item, but we did not change out attitude to national interests.Even thieves have honour.
