By Clem Oluwole
Last week, the Nigerian sporting scene was thrown into shock following the sudden death of one of the country’s most magnificent athletes, the US-based Dele Udoh.
When the story of Dele Udoh’s death came through our telex machine last week Thursday evening, one thing sprang to my mind: “Oh, my God… these United States folks…!” But my lips ceased to move when I came to realize that Dele Udoh was not in the United States. He was here in his own land – to run a race for Nigeria in the All-Africa Athletics Championship scheduled for Benin.
The incident that led to Dele’s death has been narrated again and again. The most unfortunate development is the statement credited to the Lagos State Police Command… that Dele shot himself. The spokesman for the police command, however, did not tell the nation in what manner the sane star athlete took his own life barely five months to the end of his postgraduate course. It sounds very funny, doesn’t it?
Perhaps, this is how it all happened: Dele and a couple of friends, in a Beetle car, went out in search of food on returning from an athletics meet in Ilorin. They then came to a checkpoint in Idi-Araba, Lagos. The policemen at the checkpoint demanded for the particulars of the car, which were left at the National Institute for Sports. Dele being the ‘hungriest man’ came out of the car and pleaded with the policemen. The policemen would not listen to him. And a hungry man being an angry man, Dele lost his cool. Then he simply grabbed the submachine gun from one of the policemen (or did he bring one from the U. S.?) and shot himself. Is this the type of cock and bull story the police want us to believe?
Although the case is now in court, the statement by the police cannot go without any comment. It is an unfortunate statement, most exasperating. And I think the stand taken by the family of the late athletics superstar not to accept the corpse unless justice is done is justifiable.
With the death of Dele Udoh, the Nigerian sports scene is under trial. One cannot say so much since the matter has gone to court but the whole athletics world is watching us. Dele was not only a Nigerian star athlete, but also a precious gem to the sporting world.
May the Almighty God grant his family, relatives, friends and numerous admirers including yours truly the strength and courage to bear the tragic loss.
On Segun Odegbami
And so the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) has thought it fit to speak out on Segun Odegbami. It is, however, very pleasant to note that Segun is still part and parcel of the Eagles and the NFA is financing his treatment in Britain. I do hope that he will be fit enough to return to the camp.
And by this singular act, the NFA has scored full marks and I am sure millions of Nigerian soccer followers will share the same view with me. This is because what the NFA has done is not for Segun but for Nigerian soccer. Remember that Segun did not sustain the knee injury while playing for the Green Eagles. He was playing for his club though in a continental assignment.
However, I will appeal to the men of the NFA not to be too indifferent to public outcry. The NFA is a public institution and the public has the right to know what goes on there.
(Culled from Saturday Commentary, first published on July 25, 1981).
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