Stephen Okechukwu 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 Cup 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 Sports Ministry failed to pay Keshi and his technical team! After series of lamentation from Keshi, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) 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 nature of a nation’s mien.
What kind of country sacks her heroes? What kind of country would not pay staff 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 being forced down their throats by some immoral leaders? Musa Adamu, the Nigerian 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 (NFF) 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.
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