Politician and presidential candidate for the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi has outlined key lessons for Nigeria following its disappointing performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In a series of tweets on his official X account, Obi acknowledged some positive milestones achieved by the country despite the overall setback.
He emphasized the need for Nigeria to address its leadership issues, asserting that ineffective political leaders pose significant risks to the nation’s progress.
He said, “After I lamented Nigeria’s disastrous outing in the 2024 Paris Olympics yesterday, I would like Nigerians not to ignore the powerful message from the global sports event.
“While the giant of Africa finished without a single medal, where nine African countries won medals, Nigeria still registered some positives at the global event in a way that brought out glaringly our challenges.
“Four Nigerians came out shining at the Olympics because they operated in better environments where talents are recognized and nations take themselves seriously.
“Yemisi Ogunleye won gold for Germany. Annette Echikunwoke, frustrated out of Nigeria, won gold for the United States of America, and Ebelechukwu Agbapuonwu who already an athletic potential at the age of 15 in Port Harcourt, River state before changing nationality and religion, won silver medals for Bahrain and lastly the 32-year-old Nigerian American head coach of Nigeria’s female basketball team the D’Tigress, Rena Wakama, was named the best coach at the Olympics for guiding Nigeria team to the quarterfinals.
“Her incredible leadership and strategic prowess were noticed. At various times, Nigerians continue to showcase their talents and prove that with the right environment and the right leadership, they can surmount all obstacles.
“This message should challenge us to realise that our poor political leadership will continue to harm us irretrievably until we dismantle the corrupt system and enthrone a new Nigeria that is possible.”
The Nigerian team had failed to win a single medal at the 2024 Olympics.
The Sports Ministry in a statement on Monday, said it would immediately commence preparations for the next Olympics.
It assured of its readiness to “turn the tides around and restore our sporting glory”.
“The journey in Paris has inspired us as a Ministry to start now for the next games coming up in Los Angeles 2028, so we can rewrite history and show the world we are the giant of the black race,” the ministry’s spokesperson Kehinde Ajayi said in a Monday statement.