Reflecting about Nigeria Sport and its current state of affairs which is characterized by occasioned inevitable crisis that over time has become a common feature within its circle, I have decided to discuss an area today that have for long eluded most sport critics and experts comments and interest but which if and when properly situated on the balance of its probabilities, have got the capacity to destroy our entire sport programme considering its destructive potential and capacity.
Many from afar may not appreciate the under current that is generated in the sport circle as it is today but the truth is that the current in sport if converted into power will serve Nigeria with uninterrupted power supply for five years without blinking. I have come to observe that of a truth there exist in sport what I classify as “Sport Political Intrigues”. For the purpose of those who have the privilege of studying sociology of sport I am not talking about “Politics in Sport” as may be thought in the class room what I am saying is that this particular sport political intrigue is a perpetual commitment by certain persons or group as the case may be to occasionally and consistently invade into the sporting ecosystem with the intention of cleaning the dice to please their mathematical permutation.
Interestingly a lot of time, energy, consultations, human and material resources including large sums of money are all expended during such political intrigues and yet one is constrained to ask of what benefit is it that we have such multi dimensional political intrigues in our sport environment and till date I have not been able to find an answer to my question.
It has become a vicious cycle and a normal occurrence for us to witness a situation whereby whenever this political intrigue is activated they start first by pretending to the world that they are out to sanitize the sporting sector and their usual bait has always been tired to the slogan “ Corruption “ or “ Misappropriation of fund “.
What is evident however is the commencement or activation of political mechanism that will see to the eventual replacement of current leadership with whoever is the anointed candidate or better put a lucky political son or daughter. I have witnessed in this country a situation whereby innocent sport administrators were labeled as criminals and disgraced out of office all because of sport political intrigues.
The danger in all this which is my primary concern is that overtly or covertly the perpetrators of this scheme are destroying the brand product called sport which they ought to be promoting. They are killing sport yet, they are also seen on the other hand lamenting on lack of adequate or substantial patronage of sport sponsors and partners. Today there is little or no integrity for any Sport Manager this is because word’s going round is simply that they are all thieves that do not have the development of sports at heart. These assertions or statement have been constantly used before some of us ever dreamt of studying Sport Management.
The actual revolution that will see to the eventual development of Sport industry in Nigeria has not started however, if for a mere less than Six (6) Billion Naira which the entire Nigeria Sport Industry can’t claim to generate in a year that we are having this current scenario playing out I then begin to wonder what will the scenario be like if and when the industry can generate over 30Billion Naira which to my mind and understanding is very possible to achieve what then will be happening. I assume by then, most people will start moving around in Bullet proof cars and even wear Bullet proof vests.
The Government as I keep saying have got no business running sport however, their basic and primary role or business as the case may be should basically be limited to regulating and giving policy direction for the entire sport sector in Nigeria. This will open up the space for professional and healthy competition to strive. Meanwhile, government at all levels do have as a duty to ensure that adequate, accessible, standard and well equip sport facilities are developed in Nigeria
Rather than be so worked up in the daily management of sports, and its associated political intrigues peculiar to each sport, it is expedient for government at all strata to improve the operations of sport system thus reducing the practice of political intrigues as been exploited by some due to failed systems and corresponding challenges associated with failed systems. This is achievable when Government decides to change its operational focus by becoming that of a sport regulator with enough powers to develop policy, implement same and sanction where necessary those failing to comply.
I ask all those involved in sport political intrigues what the benefit is when they implore their schemes to blackmail, destroy and petition a sport system all in their attempt to see to a possible change that will favour their political inclination not for the general good of sport but for their selfish interest. I dare say to that these political jobbers are mere parasites of sport system and detractors to the overall development of sport in Nigeria.
Let us as a Nation set aside political acrimony and concentrate on the eventual development of the sporting sector and concentrate our collective effort in rebranding the sport image through a systematic absorption of qualified personnel that will help in actualizing this new thinking in sports world wide. Sport business is a very lucrative business and should not be left in the hands of proponents of sport political intrigues. I wish to use this medium to wish all my readers a Merry Xmas in advance please accept my best sporting regards.
