Stephen Keshi, ex-Nigerian Super Eagles’ captain and currently,
her coach, is no novice to the Nigerian scheme of things. In 2002, he was sacked as an assistant coach
along with his head coach, Shuaibu Ahmodu and replaced by
Adegboye Onigbinde before the awful showdown in South Korea and Japan. Again, after
winning the 2013 African Cups of Nations early this year and securing Nigeria’s
place in the 2014 World Cup, the Nigerian Football Association threatens to
sack him.
It
is no news that certain Nigerians don’t appreciate their heroes. Early this
year, sad tunes rocked the air as the football ministry failed to pay Keshi and
his technical team! After long lamentations from Keshi, the Nigerian Football
Federation decided to pay part of his stipends.
News
that the coach might be sacked again is worrisome. In response to this, Keshi
told BBC sports that “We are talking about Nigeria here, so you never know what
may happen.” His opinion defines the ugly features of a nation’s mien.
What
kind of country sacks her heroes? What kind of country would not pay staffs for
carrying out their duty?
The
issue on ground requires some form of protestations by concerned citizens. For,
how long would Nigerians keep swallowing heavy pills thrown down their throats
by some immoral leaders? Musa Adamu, the
Nigeria Football Federation’s secretary, opened all four compass points of his
mouth to vomit this statement: “Obligations to the coaching crew are always
settled, and we have the understanding of the coaching crew in this regard.”
Well,
if the coaching crew were always settled why would Keshi and his crew beg for
pay? The Nigerian aphorism, monkey dey work baboon dey chop, rings true about
the Nigerian scheme of things. An individual works but never receives pay.
While working for Togo and Mali as the head
coach, Keshi never complained about unpaid salaries. In Nigeria, his home, an
embarrassing dish was served to him and his crew. Adamu has another defense for
the federation’s incompetency, he says “We've been working together with
Stephen Keshi since November 2011 and he knows the peculiar situation
[financial problems] of how things are with the federation.” That is not the
issue. The issue is that certain elements within the football federation love
this stratagem; they love using “financial problems” as a ruse because they can
proceed to loot and fill their pockets with other people’s money.
Christian
Chukwu, Shaibu Amodu, Samson Siasia, Austin Eguavoen, John Obuh and Eucharia
Uche have all previously complained about outstanding salaries in the recent
past. Can one conclude that this is a Nigerian thing?
Teachers,
cleaners, doctors and the list goes on, experience the same ugliness. There is
an utter disregard for individuals who spend most of their life working for a
better Nigeria. Examples are everywhere and there is absolutely no need to
state them here.
However,
members of the Nigerian House of Representatives, commissioners and ministers
always get paid duly. If/when they are not, they skillfully cut it out from the
national cake. They own political knives and have close connection to those at
the elm of affairs.
All
kind of lies, manipulation and tricks are employed when hardworking individuals
seek their pay. Unfortunately, the Nigerian scheme of thing shows no sign of
improvement. The hole is getting deeper and darker.
As
we prepare for 2014 FIFA World Cup, the Nigerian football
federation urged Keshi to get a foreign technical assistant. He rejected the
proposal. There is no logical reason behind the offer. A man who broke the
record of being the first black African coach in twenty-one years to have won
the African nation’s cup, obviously, needs no foreign assistance.
These
antics must stop. This lack of appreciation could drain the positive energy
Nigerians like Stephen Keshi possess. Every Nigerian deserves to be treated
with a modicum of respect. Can Nigerians be accountable and render our leaders
accountable in the name of integrity, decency and honesty?
God
bless Nigeria.
