Ex-International Taribo West managed to use the burial of legendary goalkeeper Peter Rufai to get in the news. Attending the wake-keeping service of his late colleague, he bitterly complained about the country’s treatment of former sports stars, wondering why former colleagues rather than the Government are being asked to contribute funds for his burial.
It is not a new protest. This happens when a former star runs into hard times or departs this “sinful world”. The country is dragged through the mud, with allegations of hero abandonment.
However, devoid of sentiments and perennial complaints about how the country is managed, it is hard to find credibility in these protests. In fact, it speaks to a culture of entitlement and planlessness that affects so many in the country.
Take Taribo. His generation of footballers (the 1994 Super Eagles) was celebrated and well paid by their clubs and the country. Even after their playing days, they often picked up plum coaching and sports administration jobs.
More than half of the 23 players in the 1994 Super Eagles team to the USA ended up in coaching and management at various national and international levels. Want names? Keshi, Finidi, Amunike, Agu, Adepoju, Oliseh, Siasia, Eguavoen, Amokachie, Emenalo, Iroha, etc. Some, like Victor Ikpeba and Efan Ekoku, found lucrative media jobs. Another member, JayJay Okocha, has pretty much lived on well-paid endorsements for almost two decades.
Yet anytime one of them runs into hard times, we hear the sad song of abandonment. Pray, abandoned by whom? What did they use their resources for when it was all good and dandy? What is the country supposed to be doing for them? Keep paying them salaries?
Taribo’s tirade was embarrassing. What sort of entitlement mentality is that? The family of your late colleague reached out, and you are wailing? He even lies about Stephen Keshi being abandoned. The same Keshi who was the Manager of Togo, Mali and Nigeria? The same Keshi that was given an official burial by Delta State, which even named its newly constructed stadium after him? Bald-faced lies!
The people who should feel abandoned are the millions who spend their productive lives working in the public and armed services. Many come out with little to show for it and struggle to continue. We should focus on them by getting the pension system right, ensuring they have living wages that give them the chance to save something for the rainy day, and having social services that can cater for their many needs, including health.
We love our heroes. We respect them. But we do not want heroes who feel entitled, who feel that the country should continue to pay for their foibles after they frittered their golden chances to plan for their future.
God bless Nigeria!
Gatekeepers News is not liable for opinions expressed in this article, they’re strictly the writer’s
