By Desmond Ekwueme
Ahmed Musa is not Ijaw. Victor Osimhen is not Fulani. Kenneth Omeruo is not Kanuri. William Troost-Ekong is not Tiv. Samuel Chukwueze is not Hausa. Alex Iwobi is not Yoruba. Kelechi Iheanacho is not Isoko.
Ademola Lookman is not Igbo. Stanley Nwabali is not Igala. Chidozie Awaziem is not Idoma. Ola Aina is not Nupe. Zaidu Sanusi is not Ibibio. Calvin Bassey is not Itshekiri. Frank Onyeka is not Yoruba.
Moses Simon is not Igbira. Francis Uzoho is not Berom. Ojo Olorunleke is not Jukun. Paul Onuachu is not Urhobo. Alhassan Yusuf is not Efik.
Semi Ajayi is not Ndokwa. Bright Osayi-Samuel is not Gwari. Joe Aribo is not Ogoni. Terem Moffi is not Igbo. Raphael Onyedika is not Fulani.
By the last check of Yours Sincerely, the Super Eagles have players of Muslim faith just as there are Christians. In fact, captain Musa is a Muslim and his vice Troost-Ekong is a Christian.
I dare ask, Where are the ethnic warriors and their sponsors who let Hell loose during the last general elections? Where are the politicians who were bent on dividing the people and destroying the nation on ethnic and religious lines for their selfish interests?
Where are those who killed, who maimed, who burnt houses and who destroyed the properties and businesses of innocent and law abiding citizens on ethnic and religious grounds?
Where are those who claim to be more Nigerian than others? Where are their children? Is Osimhen their son? Is Lookman their son? Is Bassey their son? Is Chukwueze their son? Where are those who called Nigerian youths lazy? Where are those who won’t allow their children to play football because sports is for the children of the poor?
Where are those who relegated sports to the background? Where are those who say sports is merely for image making? Where are those who say sports is ordinary recreational activities?
Where are those who have almost destroyed sports on account of their gluttonic lifestyle? Where are those chasing away the ex-internationals from managing and running sports because they want to take over to milk the sector dry and bury it’s dry bones?
Where are they? Where are the real enemies of Nigeria? Who can stop this celebration? Isn’t it clear that good will always overpower evil? When last did Nigerians celebrate together like this?
The Super Eagles through their victory against Indomitable Lions of Cameroun in the Round of 16 of the ongoing AFCON tournament have spoken and issued a clear advice to whoever cares to listen.
Super Eagles say, hide your faces in shame and stop destroying the country on the guises of ethnic bigotry and religious extremism!!!
© DESMOND EKWUEME
