Tinubu’s Mindless Rewards, Bigotry Threaten Super Falcons’ Future

By Ikeddy ISIGUZO

The only critique against Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma hosting a reception for seven Super Falcons members after their victory in Morocco stems from his origins in a part of Nigeria perpetually targeted for criticism, regardless of its actions.

Uzodinma merely mirrored actions for which other Governors are praised. His meeting with the “Imo 7” inadvertently highlighted the selective application of Nigerian identity to these players, celebrated as Nigerians throughout WAFCON 2024 but viewed differently afterwards.

The Super Falcons’ victory has been tarnished by President Ahmed Tinubu’s excessive reward system. The players received $100,000, a house, and a national honour apiece, for what exactly? What benchmark will be set if they win the Olympics or the World Cup? Is this the standard for African-level sports achievements? Nigerians are almost adding the team to their existing problems.

These rewards are perceived as extravagant, especially considering the economic hardship imposed on Nigerians by the APC government.

What valuable lessons does this victory offer? None. It merely provides another platform to discuss the persistent issues plaguing Nigerian sports: a lack of depth and strategic planning sacrificed for populist gestures. The same team currently showered with excessive rewards will soon be pleading for resources to compete in World Cup and Olympic qualifiers.

Similar to the concern in 1980 that the winning team lacked national representation—with only one player from the North—it is hoped that Nigerians will not sabotage the Super Falcons through similar divisive sentiments.

The Super Falcons risk being undermined by powerful figures demanding the inclusion of their constituents, anticipating further rewards.

Attention is focused on the immediate rewards rather than the sacrifices that earned them. These rewards are excessive, disregarding the long-term implications for the team’s future.

Uzodinma unwittingly revealed that seven members of the national team hail from Imo State alone.

In other countries, these resources might have been allocated to the National Institute for Sports to investigate the potential correlation between female football prowess and regional origins. This research is still possible and worthwhile.

What about coach Justin Madugu, who strategically outmanoeuvred Jorge Vilda, Spain’s World Cup-winning coach, while coaching Morocco at WAFCON? Proponents of foreign coaches remain determined to replace him.

Amid ongoing celebrations, will this team be prepared to play effectively in the coming months? Beyond fatigue and focus, can they manage their newfound wealth and sustain their footballing careers? Does Nigeria even still have a cohesive team?

Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri awarded Madugu a three-bedroom bungalow and N50 million for making the state proud.

While the Super Falcons brought pride to Nigeria, ethnic hatred permeated social media, centring on the 2023 electoral contest between Peter Obi and Tinubu, an election marred by unprecedented levels of hate speech, ethnic profiling, and the disenfranchisement of Igbo voters.

The online exchanges were so volatile that had Esther Okoronkwo missed that decisive penalty in the final, she might have been accused of acting on behalf of Peter Obi, whom online hate merchants blamed for the Super Eagles’ loss in the AFCON final in Abidjan, claiming his presence brought bad luck.

Obi’s supporters retaliated in kind, amid ongoing ethnic tensions in Lagos and nationwide.

Nigeria is more divided than ever under Tinubu, whose nepotism, clannishness, and animosity towards the Igbo have reached unprecedented levels.

He commands a significant following in this regard. There are no longer any pretences about it.

Outspoken proclamations, threats, and discriminatory public policies against the Igbo have become valued traits and prerequisites for high-ranking appointments.

Where else would Bayo Onanuga, after threatening the Igbo during the 2023 elections and refusing to apologise, be appointed as the spokesperson for the President of Nigeria, whose speeches are supposedly filled with calls for unity?

“I owe no one an apology for the ethnic slur against the Igbos – they are threats to Yorubas,” Onanuga declared in March 2023, warning the Igbo to stop interfering in Lagos politics. Onanuga issues threats against the Igbo, conveniently forgetting that he is not originally from Lagos.

The daily deluge of hatred on social media is spearheaded by the very individuals who caution against Nigeria repeating the 1994 ethnic cleansing in Rwanda, which Onanuga described in a September 2, 2018, post.

Onanuga wrote, “I visited the Genocide Memorial in Kigali, Rwanda, and left deeply sober after 90 minutes of the tour. I recommend it as a must-go place for ethnic champions, Pastors and Imams harbouring hatred about their fellow human beings and non-adherents of their faith. I hope they will take away, as I did, that human beings do not, in most cases, have a choice about who they are in this world. Our ethnic identity is determined for us by our maker. So, why do we hate a person because he is not a member of our ethnic group? Why should a Christian hate a Muslim, vice versa? Let all humanity live in love.”

He posted a picture of himself with the Genocide Memorial in the background as proof of his visit. Today, that post is evidence of Onanuga’s hypocrisy and further proof that his current boss condones pitting one group of Nigerians against another.

What changed Onanuga between 2018 and 2023? I speculate that it could be the change in his bosses.

During his 2018 visit to Rwanda, his boss was President Muhammadu Buhari, who would never allow anyone to compete with him in expressing animosity towards the Igbo.

Buhari referred to the Igbo as “a dot.” He singled out Igbo NYSC members from a group that paid him a courtesy visit in Daura to advise them against “being like Nnamdi Kanu.”

By 2018, Onanuga was in his second year as Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He sought to project the image of someone who cared about Nigeria’s future.

When his tenure was not renewed in 2022, he became more overt with his ethnic biases. By speaking for Tinubu, he fueled the growth of ethnic champions to whom Rwanda means nothing in the Nigerian context.

These incidents remain on record. No one has been arrested. Emboldened, Onanuga warned the Igbo to stay out of Lagos in 2027. He is rewarded for his divisive statements.

Suggestions have been made that Tinubu should address the nation to de-escalate tensions in Lagos. Will he heed these calls? Will he sacrifice a key component of his strategy for the 2027 election for the sake of national peace?

Nigeria faces too many critical challenges for the President to promote ethnic sentiments at a time when Nigerians are too hungry and angry to fully celebrate a major sports triumph.

Sports victories are not a solution to empty stomachs, insecurity, and a future that appears bleak and promises more darkness if mismanaged.

• Isiguzo is a major commentator on minor issues