There has been furor over the decision of former Nigeria football internationals to endorse the Presidential aspirations of former Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Nigeria Football faithful and fans of these football icons are disappointed by that action. This piece looks at the implications of such ringing endorsements.
Former Super Eagles players like Taribo West, Austin Jay Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Tijani Babangida, Obafemi Martin’s, Victor Ezeji, Dosu Joseph, Peter Rufai, Mutiu Adepoju, Victor Ikpeba, Garba Lawal, etc set tongues wagging when they recently paid a visit to former Lagos State Governer Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The former Nigeria internationals also played a novelty game in honour of the self-acclaimed Jagaban of Lagos, on the occasion of his 70th birthday.
Paying homage to the industrialist and economist would not have been a public outcry, had it not been for the Presidential aspiration of Tinubu.
Firstly, the former Lagos Governor is considered as a Kingmaker who should not desire to be king himself.
Kingmakers are revered. They are appointed to usher new kings unto the stools of their ancestors, but not expected to be kings themselves.
Conversely, Tinubu’s influence particularly in Lagos and Nigerian politics in general, is considered by many as being enough for him. He should not chase after the ‘inordinate’ dream of leading Nigeria, despite his enormous wealth.
The owner of several conglomerates in the country, is also old and (at 70) should be an elder statesman, giving wise counsel to leaders in their mid-40s to early 60s.
Tinubu was not the only politician that the former footballers visited or played a game in his honor. Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, also hosted them in 2021 and they played a novelty game in honor of the Governor, whose reason for the star invasion of Kogi is open to public scrutiny.
With the national conventions of the two leading political parties (All Progressives Congress, APC and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP) in the air, it is obvious that those who emerge as flag bearers of both parties will likely host the ex-internationals, to further boost their political campaigns.
This is unless a voice of reason and or guilt overtakes the former players. Then in that case, celebrities in the entertainment industry could be the next targets, for those seeking elective positions.
In the case of Tinubu, whatever strategy he decided to deploy seem not to be winning over Nigerians and regrettably the former internationals who have identified with him are fast losing their fan base, for their decision to pitch tent with them. In the case of two-time African Footballer of the Year winner Nwankwo Kanu, his presence at the novelty game was as a result of his showing respect to a man who was one of the few state governors who showed compassion for his Kanu Heart Foundation.
Curiously, ‘Papilo’ as Kanu is affectionately called, urged Nigerians to get their PVC and ensure that they vote in the right candidate in the 2023 General Elections. That singular statement somewhat seems to polarize his supporters and those who show Tinubu unallyed loyalty.
Kanu was right. Nigerians should not be deterred by the choices of the former internationals.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the 2023 General Election timetable. The countdown has begun. Let Nigerians vote in those they genuinely believe will lift Nigeria out of its current state. Many Nigerians are of the opinion that the former football stars ought to be the ones inviting the old brigade to usher in a new order, and not the other way round.
The point however is that the Nigeria Football heroes who made us all proud at different times in their illustrous careers have the rights to decide who to support for the 2023 elections or indeed any political activities. Showing loyalty to the elites has never been a crime. What needs to change is the ruling class using football icons as pawns in their political games.
It has never been for good rather it is a ploy to win the votes of the masses on a platter of gold
