I have always emphasized the misapplication of the quote by a former United States president, John F. Kennedy, in his inaugural address, that Americans should ask not what their country could do for them, but ask what they could do for their country (January, 1961). This is because some failed leaders, especially in Africa, dwell on this phrase to manipulate citizens into love and service to their people without even providing them with basic necessities.
As a fact, President Kennedy was only energizing his populace by expressing the significance of patriotism and unyielding support for public service. He wasn’t preaching on how to love indolent leaders who terrorize their people, or how to fly our national flags without jobs, foods, roads, water, and worse, roof over our heads.
In Nigeria, supposedly Africa’s giant, instances of dedicated athletes representing their country in global tournaments without basic allowances are a tradition and no longer make the headlines. Athletes have been made to pay their travel expenses in some cases as their own contribution to a country that is giving them an opportunity to travel abroad to showcase themselves. What a travesty.
But the current 2016 Olympics Games is no exception. Nigerian sports authorities had issued a memo asking their Olympics athletes to source their travel expenses. To save face, the ministry quickly reversed their decision after the memo made it to the social media and stirred public condemnation.
A terrible event soon emerged from Atlanta, Georgia where Nigeria’s Olympic soccer team was grounded because the sports ministry had not paid for their trip. To save face again, the sports ministry reportedly arranged another flight for the contingents. Another embarrassment event in Brazil exposed how the soccer team captain, Mikel John Obi paid about $4,000 to save the team from missing their flight to Salvador. Players and officials were held up in Sao Paulo over hotel bills incurred by additional officials.
Yet the team persevered after an excruciating journey to Brazil, less than six hours before its opening game. They endured these adversities; didn’t show any fatigue from their travel ordeal before their opening game, beating Japan 5-4 Thursday night. Nigeria also emerged their group leader, beating Sweden 1-0, and lost 0 – 2 to Colombia to qualify for the quarter finals.
Just as things got better for this team, another distraction struck once again. The players threatened to boycott their subsequent games over unpaid allowances. They complained that they have not received their outstanding allowances from their pre-Olympic training camp in Atlanta, as well as bonuses due for their group stage matches. The team’s coach Samson Siasia backed his squad after they reportedly boycotted a training session ahead of their quarter-final with Denmark today.
Siasia confirmed that the squad had only received allowances for 11 days, despite participating in months of training in both Nigeria and Atlanta prior to the tournament, and indicated that he would back the players if they decided to boycott their forthcoming match.
Besides the soccer team, other athletes representing Nigeria also go through similar ordeal. Ordinarily, athletes with oversea careers are less affected because they are well-off. But athletes living in Nigeria had to compete under stress of empty pockets; and often rely on athletes from other countries for basic expenses. What a shame!
Amidst these atrocities, some Nigerians and indeed the agents of the regime are busy camouflaging the abuse of their Olympic contingents with songs of patriotism and diversity of a nation. President Buhari, unconcerned about his battered athletes, applauded their patriotism and asked them to use the soccer team’s success over the Japanese as a source of inspiration for success. The President also vowed, prior to the game, that the Federal Government was fully committed to the contingents and would ensure that funds budgeted for the games would be released without delays. So where are the funds?
Let us call a spade a spade. Wearing national jerseys and flying the flags does not justify the love for ones country for these are the event routines. Currently, there are more than a thousand recruiters at the Olympics, scouting and signing up athletes from countries like Nigeria where sports persons have no future.
Are we yet to wonder why and how any good athlete in Nigeria ends up in Europe or America? These days they migrate to Asia and Middle East to seek better careers and more so, respect for their talents. As author and philosopher, Mark Twain, noted, “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” Regrettably, ordeal of these athletes are a proof that the Nigerian government do not deserve any loyalty from a population they horribly exploit. Poet, William Cowper was absolutely right, “No man can be a patriot on an empty stomach.”
♦ Author, Anthony Obi Ogbo, Ph.D. is the publisher of Houston-based International Guardian.
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