Reckless, Rascally Leadership Led to Nigeria’s Olympic Failure — Peter Obi

In the wake of Nigeria’s disappointing performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has voiced his frustration, attributing the country’s failure to secure a single medal to what he describes as “reckless” and “rascally” leadership.

In a strongly-worded statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Obi expressed his dismay over the outcome, especially given the significant financial investment made in the Olympic effort.

“Now that the Paris Olympics 2024 has officially ended and our dear Team Nigeria, despite the huge financial investment made into the project, is returning without a single medal, let me unreservedly register my displeasure with the performance of our team and their handlers,” Obi stated.

Obi’s criticism extended beyond the sporting arena, as he condemned the pervasive “rascality and recklessness” within Nigerian leadership, which he believes has led to the country’s diminishing reputation on the global stage.

Highlighting the stark contrast in spending and results, Obi pointed to Jamaica as a case in point, noting that the Caribbean nation, with a budget significantly smaller than Nigeria’s, managed to secure six medals.

“How can one explain that a country like Jamaica spent less than 5 per cent of what we spent on our contingents for the Paris Olympics 2024 and won as many as six medals?” Obi questioned.

He went on to underscore the broader failure of Nigeria in comparison to other African nations, mentioning that at least nine African countries won gold medals, while Nigeria, often touted as the “Giant of Africa,” returned empty-handed despite investing approximately N12 billion in the event.

Obi also took aim at the alleged corruption and inefficiency within Nigeria’s sports administration, accusing officials of prioritizing “routine and favouritism” over “competence and capacity.” He claimed that some injured athletes, unfit to compete, were nevertheless included in the team, solely to collect allowances, while officials exploited the situation for personal gain.

The criticism from Obi echoes sentiments expressed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which also expressed disappointment over Team Nigeria’s failure at the Olympics. Minister of Sports John Enoh, in a statement on his official X page, described the performance as “disappointing” and called for necessary reforms in the sports sector to address the underlying issues in leadership and administration.

As the country reflects on its poor showing in Paris, calls for accountability and significant reforms in Nigeria’s sports administration are growing louder, with many hoping for a turnaround before the next Olympic Games.