The hallmark of dictators all over the
world is their resistance to change. From colonial masters to promoters
of apartheid and modern day ‘animals in human skin’ like Charles Taylor
and Samuel Doe, they are leaders whose authority lacks legitimacy, who
resist change of any form; they are disciples of Machiavellianism and
their political hegemony is built on divide-and-rule, brute force, and
sowing seeds of discord.
Rafiu Ladipo’s infinite tenure as
President General of Nigeria Football Supporters Club and his actions
and utterances bear close resemblance to those of disciples of
Machiavelli.
Forever president
Before I became a journalist in 1996,
and ever since I started reporting in May 1996, the body has not known
any other president than Ladipo.
I know many young professionals who
have what it takes to take the club to the next level and run the club
the way supporters clubs are being run all over the world, but for
these professionals, the fear of Ladipo is the beginning of wisdom .
The few that dared him and wrestled limited power from him like Yusuf Elepo are just in office, but not in power.
Elepo was the President of the Nigeria
branch, while Ladipo is President-General World Wide, but Ladipo is
ubiquitous; the local president was relegated to the background. The
President-General, Worldwide is leading all aspects of the club.
Mention Bahorun Olatunde and I can bet
my last naira, that majority of Nigerians have never heard of that
name; yet he is the current president of the club in Nigeria. Like
Elepo and others before him, Ladipo has relegated Olatunde to the
background. The president-general worldwide is also the president of
Nigeria branch, Lagos and everywhere. Even the former sports minister,
Sani Ndanusa, whose love for power has been unmatched in Nigeria’s
recent sports history, could not understand Ladipo love for power and
attention.
Ndanusa voiced out his concern last
year at Sheraton Hotel. “This man is powerful o, he is
president-general worldwide, where was the election held?” he asked
rhetorically.
He was not elected; Ladipo just
conferred the title on himself. Ndanusa later toed a similar line,
bulldozing all obstacles in his inordinate ambition to become the
president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee. Documents were forged,
nocturnal meetings were held, association chairmen and presidents were
blackmailed, Nigeria courted bans from international sporting bodies
like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) all because of one man
ambition,
But for divine intervention and the elders report that nailed Ndanusa, things would have been worse.
Ladipo and Vuvuzela
Back to Ladipo, what members of his
club and other who detest Ladipo’s iron-fisted leadership of the club
could not achieve has been achieved by a trumpet from South Africa
called Vuvuzela.
What is Vuvuzela? It has been defined
has a blowing horn, approximately one metre in length, commonly blown
by fans at football matches in South Africa. It is also used in other
countries such as Mexico, Brazil, or Israel.
It became an international brand during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa.
There were arguments for and against its ban but President of FIFA Sepp Blatter opposed it, noting that
“We should not try to Europeanise an African World Cup.”
After its introduction in Nigeria by
South Africa Tourism through Tope Ogbeni-Awe’s TopComm Communications,
Nigerians have embraced the Vuvuzela in their millions.
At stadia, churches and other social
gatherings, Nigerians not only blow the Vuvuzela, they have made a
smaller version, which is very easy to blow and carry.
This has not gone down well with Ladipo as his Supporters Club were made irrelevant during the Nigeria’09 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Foreseeing that continued use of the
Vuvuzela will render them totally irrelevant in the nearest future,
Ladipo told KickoffNigeria.com that he would discourage Nigerians from
buying or using the Vuvuzelas during games involving the Super Eagles
at the World Cup.
“It is alien to our style and we will
not go there with one or buy any in South Africa,” he said. “We have a
traditional way of supporting our team and FIFA has praised our style.
Many teams have cried against the use of the instrument in football
because of the deafening noise and we are not going to encourage it in
Nigerian football.”
Did you say alien?
Let Ladipo be told in clear term that
the number of his club members that will be at Ellis Park when the
Eagles take on Argentina on June 12 will be insignificant when compared
to the number of South Africans, Nigerians resident in South Africa and
thousands of us from Nigeria that would be blowing the Vuvuzela.
If Ladipo feels this instrument
irritates, does he know the number of people that the trumpets and
drums his club members beat irritates?
If Ladipo says the Vuvuzela is alien,
then what about the instruments that his club members use – are they
all indigenous to Nigeria?
By calling a South African instrument
alien to Nigerians and calling for its ban, does he not know that he
may be inciting South African fans, who will be in the majority at the
World Cup, against the Super Eagles?
Did he ever think about the
implications of his statement on the Nigeria-South Africa relationship?
I think Ladipo needs a versed and seasoned public relations manager so
that he won’t make such unguarded statement in future.
To South Africans, they can be assured that Ladipo is speaking for
himself and his club. The statement is the opinion of a man who is
trying to resist change. There are many Nigerians who are in love with
the government, people, culture and music from South Africa and we will
not only be holding the Vuvuzela in South Africa, we will be blowing it
when Eagles play Argentina at Ellis Park on June 12. I cannot thank the
Vuvuzela enough for signalling the end of the Ladipo hegemony by
rendering his club irrelevant.
