Ehen! Una dey see am? This past week, all over Kenya, Egypt, and even here in Naija, guess wetin bin scatter Google search? No be 'how to japa without money' this time o! It was football! Specifically, that Luton vs. Chelsea FA Cup wahala and the Zamalek vs. Future showdown in the Egyptian league. The energy, the talk, the tension – it was mad! People dey argue for barbershop, for bus stop, even for online, about tactics, about referees, about who go win. That kind passion, that raw excitement, that collective focus? Na something else.
But my people, I dey look all this strong passion for ball and one question dey pepper my mind: wetin happen to this kind energy when it comes to our own matter? When e reach time to hold our leaders accountable, where all this fire dey go? We fit shout for 90 minutes because one striker miss goal, but when government miss all their targets for infrastructure, for education, for light – we just dey sigh and continue our life?
Look at the FA Cup. Luton, an underdog, giving Chelsea a run for their money. You see grit, determination, a clear objective. Same for the Egyptian league, two giants clashing, fighting for every inch. The players get clear mandate: win. The coaches get clear mandate: strategize. And if they fail, there are consequences! Fans go vex, management go act.
Now, compare that to our political field. We dey elect people, dem dey give us sweet promises like say na Champions League final speech. 'We go build roads!', 'We go give una light 24/7!', 'We go fight corruption!' But two, three years down the line, na dust and darkness we dey see. Inflation dey fly like say e get private jet, with the IMF warning us of even tougher times ahead because of rising food and transport costs. The cost of living is so high, rent alone can swallow almost 50% of salaries, and even basic utilities like electricity and water can be unreliable. Fuel scarcity still dey show face, and the overall economic growth forecast has been downgraded.
Where is the accountability? Where is the 'red card' for politicians who promise heaven and deliver hell? We clap for goals, we cheer for defensive blocks, we fume at bad calls on the pitch. But for the biggest game of all – the game of governance – we just dey siddon look? Our youth unemployment rate is still alarming, with millions of young Nigerians without jobs and many graduates not even considered immediately employable because of a skills mismatch. This na profound human tragedy and a growing political risk, yet our leaders dey talk say dem dey fight corruption but the systems remain deeply entrenched.
We deserve to demand that our leaders perform with the same passion and precision we expect from our favourite footballers. If Zamalek or Chelsea can't deliver, their fans go burn tire! Why are we not doing the same for our own future? This isn't just about football; it's about the standard we accept. We see how well-run systems deliver excitement and results in sports. Why are we tolerating anything less in our national affairs? Let's channel this same match-day energy into demanding good governance. No more 'sidon-look' FC! It's time to play offense for our future!
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