On Sunday, March 20th 2022, Onikan Stadium played host to former Super Eagles Stars in a Novelty Match with Team Asiwaju in celebration of the 70th  birthday ceremony of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The former Super Eagles Stars who featured in the Novelty match include, Kanu Nwankwo, Jay Jay Okocha, Peter Rufai, Tijani Babangida, Mutiu Adepoju, Garba Lawal, Julius Aghahowa, Victor Ikpeba, Uche Okechukwu, Ifeanyi Udeze, Taribo West, Victor Agali, Ike Shorunmu, Victor Ezeji, Obafemi Abiodun and Dosu Joseph.

These Ex-Super Eagles stars at their prime time of duty to the Nation distinguished themselves as core patriots who gave their all in service to their fatherland. These were the times Nigerian players placed the interest of the Nation far above their personal interest.

The match was organized by the Lagos State Government and the Tinubu Support Group, indeed it was a star-studded match.

Since the Ex-Super Eagles heroes paid their honour to one of Nigeria’s greatest ICONs some selected few have taken their precious time to denounce these players and even tag them hungry.

The outburst by these retrogressors is only a confirmation of Jealousy and Covetousness which is the inherent character in some Nigerians. They just sit down and make a mountain out of an anthill.

First of all, what is their business with these players on whoever they wish to support? Or Play for ?

These people are brand ambassadors with the majority of them having lucrative endorsement deals by even multinational companies. Some of them like the great Jay-Jay Okocha who was so good that they named him twice have sports betting companies that are doing very well and can employ these idle jobless sets of humans who only see hate in everything.

Aside from the fact that these Ex-Super Eagles Players have been honouring Asiwaju Bola Tinubu for a long while with such a Novelty match they have their reasons for such. Nwankwo Kanu for instance gave his justifications why he would forever remain appreciative to the Jagaban, according to the Ex-Arsenal and Inter Milan hero Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was there for him when he started the Kanu Heart Foundation.

Running around looking for support Kanu saw little hope till he met Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who gave his lending hand to the Foundation.

The Kanu Heart Foundation(KHF) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization founded by World-renowned footballer, Kanu Nwankwo to help indigent Nigerian children with cardiac diseases obtain life-saving surgeries within and outside Nigeria.

Since its launch in 2000 and in pursuit of its vision, KHF has successfully helped 538 children of varying ages get open-heart surgeries in hospitals across the world.

According to the Coordinator of KHF, Pastor Onyebuchi Abia, the Foundation has spent about $4.2 million for surgeries outside Nigeria.

Can you hear that? The foundation which had its first lifeline from the Jagaban has spent about $4.2 million, an average of $10,000.00 per person, for surgeries outside Nigeria.

These nauseating people going online to lampoon Kanu can not even boast of helping a single individual with five thousand naira but are here to criticise this great man just because he has decided to identify with Tinubu.

Taribo West has been in the gospel ministry touching lives, his ministry is not associated with fleecing the populace with the normal abracadabra moves we see from many Pastors. He has carried on with dignity and has never wavered. They have decided to call him names abi? Let them cry a river that is their business.

So because Victor Ikpeba decided to endorse Asiwaju Bola Tinubu they are wailing and shedding tears? Why can’t they eat their Elephant and allow these Super Heros to eat their FOWL in peace?

How many times have they criticized superstars for endorsing commercial products of which some of these products are even harmful to humanity?

Hypocrisy is the practice of engaging in the same behaviour or activity for which one criticizes another or the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behaviour does not conform.

Some of our Heros today like Davido, Whizkid, Burnaboy and co that everyone celebrates promotes indecency, drugs, thuggery, illicit sex, rascality and other vices. How many times have they come out openly to speak against these people?

I am a strong fan of Davido and co, his music inspires me and most times I find it difficult to write if these Afro Beat stars are not inspiring me with their music.

These same people that do not see anything good in Nigeria funny enough are the ones that commit all such moral decadence that we preach against today.

The best of our soccer days were from these Super Eagles stars that these few ignoramuses are insulting today. Taribo West has shed tears, blood and pains to bring glory to Nigeria what have their hero done to bring glory to our Nation?

Hypocrisy is always a double-edged sword in which both sides of the blade cuts the conveyor deeply.

In less than two months we would be having presidential primaries in all the political parties, who amongst their hero seeking the presidency has brought glory to Nigeria like the class of these Super Eagles 94 sets?

Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has paid his dues, he has reached out to people in need, he has empowered countless people that today only Tinubu’s cabinet compared to any other Governor’s cabinet from 1999 to date are still up and doing politically.

Say whatever you like, cry blood if you like, who these super eagles stars support is non of your business, I heard people saying they were paid to perform, and so what if they were paid or not how does that affect you?

It gets so irritating when people are quick to add stomach infrastructure to every single act of nobility by selfless individuals.

Make una comot eye for soldier man salary oh, concentrate on your aspirant we have no time again to the general polls. The energy deployed to hate on Asiwaju Bola Tinubu would only consume you for nothing.

I heard someone praying that these players should be afflicted with ills because of their support for the Jagaban, see “A chicken’s prayer doesn’t affect a hawk”

While hate can be directed at almost anything – animals, foods, jobs, movies – the most destructive is hatred toward other people. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has been investigated countless times by the relevant agencies and yet he has never been found wanting, majority of your ex-governors are still battling with EFCC and yet you praise them to high heavens.

An envious person requires no reason to practice envy, well keep practising your envy the election is closer than you can imagine.

Let me drop this quote from Siddhartha Buddha which says it all: Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.

Deal with it Tinubu is coming…

This article by Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah, Principal/Chairman of Bush Radio Academy was first published in the iReporteronline on March 24, 2022