In the aftermath of the good fight the Nigerian-born UK boxer, Anthony Joshua (AJ) had against the Cameroonian erstwhile kickboxer, Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia in which the earlier beat the later through knockout in second round, some issues outside boxing have emerged in social discourse. Notable among them is the goof AJ made in his post-fight comment in which he acknowledged his fan bases in United Kingdom (UK), Watford (the city he grew up in) UK and Saudi Arabia but never mentioned Nigeria where he, arguably, has the largest number of fans. His omission of Nigeria which seemed not deliberate later blew up into a big issue in social media as some Nigerians who felt uncomfortable with the development and expected a correction from the boxer’s publicists were further affronted by a vocal section of online commentators who firmly justified his action. Hence, despite the bout issues of Mr. Joshua’s identity came to the fore and has remained an issue.
Joining the discourse CHUKA NNABUIFE writes:
I hope it is now established that AJ is not a Nigerian and not a Yoruba man? So all the advertorials and endorsements such as the Nigerian telecom giant’s and others passing him off as one should immediately make amends or do the most needful.
Whenever his next events come up, let people who currently support his put down of Nigeria remember not to disturb our peace about the Briton from Watford.
However, it must be observed the low-thinking and cheapness of reasoning of those who claim or assume that giant Nigeria is so little as to be crazily craving to be associated with such a boxer with a flip-flop career. Beaten twice by a pot-bellied obese boxer from Ukraine whose biggest known ‘sports’ is drinking beer.
It is unfair and unacceptable to claim that Nigeria is snuggling towards a boxer who couldn’t even break into our nation boxing team after trial.
Pray, why and for what particular feat should any quality-minded Nigerian with his head on his shoulder, crave to identify with Anthony Joshua? Is it just because he hails from Sagamu, Ogun State but doesn’t identify with the place or the state? By records or global reckoning, is he up to the world record holding athlete Tobi Amusan from the state who is overtly proud of her State, her Yorubaness and her Nigerian root, and is still conquering the world in her sports.
Abegi, make we talk of beta people wey get sense and follow the advice of beta people. You no geti am, you de do yanga for Naija, who don do am succeed. Go chop your $40m. E go soon finish o! Any you are in your 30s o! You know what that means.
For those bandying the naivety: “What has Nigeria done for Anthony Joshua?” Note that despite his not-fantastic career the federal government of Nigeria, led by former President Muhammadu Buhari has played host to him — a rare privilege. Yet, despite that big honour, he went ahead to lose the match in a most disgraceful way — a knockout!
For those who are goading him in that damning path of self-entitlement (even when they know that he has gotten more than his fair share) they should note that wisdom has never been in seeking what your country should do for you but in seeking what you should do for your country.
For a brief study, AJ has John Fashanu, Efan Okoku, Gabriel Agbolahor, among other Nigerian-born stars who thought UK would offer them home there check how far they went.
A leopard can never erase her spots no matter how hard it tries. And through the great Ola Rotimi in ‘The Gods Are Not to Blame’ we learnt the Yoruba proverb: “a butterfly can never call himself a bird.”
AJ, you may have grown up in Watford but you are not British. Time will tell.
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