I’m sad. I’ve spent the last five days pondering if doing anything for Nigeria is really worth the trouble. As much as I love Nigeria, I think that our negative attitude towards those who helped shape the image of the country needs to be changed. We mustn’t wait until our heroes and heroines are laying prostrate in their caskets (God forbid) before we remember who they were.
We must stop this morbid mentality towards honouring our past heroes and heroines (the few that we remember) only in death. Many of them carry the vestiges of their death from playing for Nigeria, in the case of football, to win honours for us while we sit in the comfort of our homes or at the stands applauding their remarkable performances. It is cruel for anyone to talk about what they earned during their active days, because the proportion of those who make it to the big stage is small.
We should remember our heroes and heroines as other countries do. I flinch reading through some of the names being given national awards yearly, especially when I don’t find the names of our deserving sportsmen and women. I’ve been told that the names come from the states; this shouldn’t be. The Ministry of Sports should impress on President Muhammadu Buhari the need to yearly reward our sports ambassadors. We shouldn’t attach national honours to winning trophies only. Those who get honoured haven’t done anything for us that brought joy to the citizenry like our sports ambassadors.
On reflection, I seem to have a second thought on the significance of such awards when the recipients are abandoned in their old age. I’ve lost count of the number of neglected athletes who are dead. We shouldn’t allow this bad trend to continue. We should rise in support of these athletes, lest we find it difficult to convince our younger ones to embrace sports.
I’m still pinching myself to ask how Nigerians allowed Christian ‘Chairman’ Chukwu’s health to deteriorate so miserably as captured in all the videos trending on the social media. If we value such icons here, someone could have taken the Enugu State governor to Chukwu’s house to physically see him instead of relying on his subordinates’ accounts. My pain worsened reading accounts of those who were privy to Chukwu’s health condition. I asked God to forgive them. Indeed, nobody asked the club to tell us how much Chukwu is being paid. Who cares if he earns N700,000 monthly. I hope they understand the meaning of this revelation in this era of kidnapping.
Had the health challenges of the late Rashidi Yekini, the late Thompson Oliha et al been highlighted like Chukwu’s on the social media, they would still be with us here – perhaps. Yekini didn’t deserve to die the way he did.
I salute the courage of the person who took Chukwu’s health condition to the social media. That singular action shook Nigerians’ into action. Today, we have been told how the governor released N1.5 million and N1 million based on reports of those who saw Chukwu. What these people failed to tell the governor was the need for him to visit the clinic or hospital where Chukwu was to see things for himself. The governor is very busy with state matters. But if he was told of the need to see Chukwu, the former Green Eagles captain won’t be in the hospital. Nobody is disparaging the hospital where Chukwu is being treated. Most modern hospitals are world-class. What was been highlighted was Chukwu’s health condition, which wasn’t pleasant to see.
The point being made here is that if an icon such as Chukwu is distressed, it becomes a national issue. The flyer in the social media was explicit; it evoked emotions for everyone who saw it. It is cruel for anyone to blame the man who took Chukwu’s health to the social media because it is the language we understand. Indeed, the fellow stated clearly that he was doing that on behalf of former Enugu Rangers’ players, insisting that the unspent cash from Chukwu’s treatment funds would be kept in the account to treat others who may be ill. This man never said that Chukwu was abandoned or treated unfairly.
There were two sets of videos. The first showed Chukwu struggling to come down from the staircase. Watching Chukwu struggle through the staircase raised the poser of how he got there in the first instance. It was a wicked experience for such a man in severe pains. The second video showed Chukwu walking out of the hospital or clinic in measured but painful steps.
As he took the slow but painful steps through the door, an unseen bystander called his name, ‘Chairman’ Christian Chukwu Ndo. This bystander did that deliberately to show everyone that the fellow in the video was Chukwu. At that point, doubters knew it was Chukwu. Chukwu’s response threw into the gutter suggestions that the video was a scam. This writer fought back tears as Chukwu turned slowly to mutter ”hmm!” One was taken aback why they allowed Chukwu to ‘walk’ that far after exiting the hospital. It would have been tidier if a car was driven close to the door for him to just enter than to totter towards the vehicle.
It is, however, heartening that many Nigerians have responded to Chukwu’s situation. He deserves the best because he gave his all playing and winning laurels for Nigeria as a player and as a coach. Put simply, Chukwu belongs to Nigerians as a Member of the Order of the Nigeria (MON).
Speaking to thenff.com on Monday evening following his visit to the former defender, Chairman of the Enugu State Football Association and Member of the NFF Executive Committee, Hon. Chidi Ofo Okenwa reported that Chukwu is in a ”very stable” condition and he is being adequately taken care of in a world -class medical facility in Enugu State.
“In all sincerity, I never knew this kind of hospital existed anywhere east of the Niger. It is a world -class facility with highly qualified medical doctors and nurses. The doctors are on top of Chukwu’s matter and I can tell you that I met ‘Chairman’ in a very stable condition. I met a Christian Chukwu that talks and eats normally and is of sound mind and spirit.
“I want to assure Nigerians from all walks of life that their former captain, their legend, Christian Chukwu, is in good condition and in good hands. I am assured by the doctors that there is no cause for alarm, and that if there is any need to fly him abroad for further checks, they would promptly so advise.”
Reassuring words from the NFF chief, but it should be stated here that the Chukwu scenario should jumpstart the process of taking care of our stars in the twilight of their careers. If a concerned Nigerian deems it appropriate to seek help from the ”Gofundme” platform, he is doing it for general good. Such a person should be applauded, not derided as a fraudster. If he didn’t do it, eminent Nigerians such as Femi Otedola wouldn’t have volunteered to foot the bill for Chukwu’s overseas treatment.
Since the Chukwu story broke, I’ve been waiting to read about what the players’ union have done. Nothing has been heard from the players Chukwu nurtured to stardom as a coach for Enugu Rangers and Super Eagles. I don’t expect Chukwu’s playmates to do anything significant because they didn’t play the game for cash like we have now. The players’ union is enmeshed in needless power tussle while one of their best is in pains.
The players’ union should have enough cash to quickly attend to an ailing player and then reach out to others. $50,000 should be chicken feed for our big boys, if they are together. I’m sure that Ahmed Musa, Obafemi Martins, Osaze Odemwingie, Mikel Obi and a few others known to be compassionate on such matters will act, if contacted. The leadership of the players’ union should bury their heads in shame.
This writer has spearheaded a campaign of this nature here for the late Coach Willy Bazuaye and Sunday Eboigbe. I heard of their plight during visits to Benin City. I visited them and raised the alarm here. Former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola responded. He brought the soccer icons to Lagos, where they were treated. Sadly, Coach Bazuaye died, but Eboigbe lives on.
Whenever I called Eboigbe, he spent much time praying for Fashola. He ends the prayers session thanking me. Our heroes and heroines are Nigeria’s project in their distress. They deserve our care.
