Odegbami: Encounter With Samson Siasia – Forgotten so Soon?

I had him and the memory of Chioma at the back of my mind, knowing how sports persons are disrespected and disregarded in this clime. I was willing to give Samson the benefit of the doubt and find out directly from him the only thing that I needed to resolve in my mind, an unanswered but very important question – why did he not respond to FIFA’s written enquiry?

Last week, I was in Abuja to see Samson.

Just as in the case of Chioma, I wanted to peer into his eyes and find the truth in his words.

The man was badly traumatized.

He was in a state of disbelief.

Like me, Samson is an Olympian, sworn to certain ethics and conduct.

He told me his truth, and I chose to believe him.

I wondered after all, why it is so easy for people to dismiss the matter the way most did as if FIFA are infallible?

I had to put myself in Samson’s shoes to appreciate his simple and very innocent response.

I have been in football for almost 5 decades. The only time I have ever dealt directly with FIFA, in all that time, was when I lodged a protest concerning the integrity of the local elections into the Nigeria Football Federation, and they responded to my petition.

Beyond that, players and coaches have no business or a relationship with FIFA requiring any form of communication. If FIFA want to contact me now, it makes sense that they would either go through my national football federation, or through the email address they must have received from me several years ago, a Hotmail account that I discarded many years ago. Once in a very blue moon I visit the box and find thousands of ‘useless’ mails that I never even bother to read or respond to.

That’s the challenge of my generation. We pretend to be very IT savvy yet engage very little. I know some well-known footballers that would not even bother to engage the social media.

If Samson saw FIFA’s mail I believe him that he would have responded. Period.

Thereafter, there was nothing else for me to consider.

His job was limited to coaching Nigeria’s national teams.

FIFA had not listed any match involving Nigeria as being fixed.

Or could Samson have fixed a match not involving his own team?

So, if no Nigerian match is listed anywhere as having been fixed, how come Samson would be accused of match fixing allegations?

If the charge is only that he did not respond to their mail, then, surely there is a big mistake somewhere.

FIFA, I believe, was in haste or in anger when it took its decisions to fine and ban Samson Siasia.

Even the letter written to him requesting for his response to the allegation clearly states that failure to respond would attract a penalty of at least 10,000 Swiss francs and a possible maximum sentence of a two years ban. That’s what the letter said.

So, what justifies a life ban?

Well, that is FIFA’s headache to deal with Samson’s advised move to take the case to the Court of Sports Arbitration and to FIFA itself.

What I learnt looking him straight in the eye resolved my only confusion.

My problem now is how Nigeria and Nigerians are taking the matter outside of FIFA.

Also Read: Siasia’s Mother’s Abductors Lower Ransom Demand To N30m From N50m

Samson has been left in the lurch to carry the can of his ‘sin’, condemned and abandoned to his fate. Even his kidnapped mother’s situation has now receded in serious attention, forgotten and consigned to the back burners of public interest.

This is another classic Chioma Ajunwa scenario unfolding before our very eyes.

The least we can do is look again at the issues, and not dump Samson Siasia in the heap of our amnesia.

I need to remind us all that our national hero is going through a most horrifying, extremely painful and difficult experience of his life.

Nigerians must not forget or abandon him now.

I remind us all again that the design of the world order, of which FIFA is a very powerful and influential component, is never so that the Nigerian would thrive or succeed. For all we know, Samson may be a victim of such prejudice.

So, rather than forget him and his mother, who is still in captivity, let us stand by him and help him!

My prayer is that the elements take charge quickly as they did in 1996, and re-write the story of Samson Siasia. May the moment of this greatest challenge become the moment of his greatest triumph.

Femi Otedola

Femi Otedola – Thank You!

By the time you are reading this, it would be the fourth day since Peter Fregene was wheeled out of surgery for a lifesaving operation performed by a renowned Nigerian neurosurgeon based in the United States of America. Dr. Olawale Sulaiman was flown in for that purpose.

At the time I am writing this on Thursday morning, I have just spoken with Peter on his bed in the Intensive Care Unit of Reddington Hospital in Victoria Island, Lagos, one of the most expensive and best equipped hospitals in Nigeria, where he is recuperating after his surgery that was pronounced successful.

The big story is that since Peter Fregene entered Reddington for treatment several months ago, he has not set his eyes on his benefactor, the man who is footing the entire bill!

Fregene, before his admission into Reddington Hospital

This same man also intervened in the known cases of Christian Chukwu and Sadiq Daba both of whose overseas hospital bills he took care of. Now this.

The man does not want any of the noises associated with his generous philanthropy. He wants no attention or even acknowledgment for his gifts of life to the people he helps.

I use this opportunity to express, on behalf of all generations of Nigerian football players, our most sincere and deep gratitude for your intervention, help, support and unbridled philanthropy to Mr. Femi Otedola.

The Creator of the universe will reward him abundantly.