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Vandalism: Actuality in Nigeria’s World Cup qualification?
The Black Stars of the Republic of Ghana, sealed the fate of the Green Eagles of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a 1-1 away playoff draw in Abuja (Nigeria) on Tuesday, over their World Cup qualification to Qatar.
Indeed, to the excruciating pain of the Nigerians, the Black Stars qualified to journey to Qatar in November to participate in the World Cup on the “away goals rule”.
The Green Eagles, who had appeared in six of the previous seven World Cups, had been expected by most of the over 60,000 spectators in the Abuja Stadium, to book a place again after the first leg of their playoff-tie ended 0 – 0 in Ghana on Friday, 18th March, 2022.
With their victory over the Green Eagles, the Black Stars are making a return to the World Cup after missing the 2018 edition in Russia, four years ago.
Reportedly, Nigerian fans stormed the pitch and vandalised the Moshood Abiola Stadium, as a fall out from their surprise to qualify for the World Cup after the final whistle of the match.
Really, the Nigerian fans at the stadium reacted to the result of the match with vandalism.
According to Wikipedia, vandalism is the action involving deliberate destruction or damage to public or private property.
As a crime, football vandalism can become more serious and distressing when committed extensively and violently or as expression of hatred and intimidation.
According to criminological research, vandalism serves many purposes for those who engage in it and stems from a variety of motives.
But in the Nigerian situation, it could be described as malicious vandalism, caused by violent outpouring of frustration and rage as a result of Nigeria’s inability to qualify for the World Cup.
In view of its incivility, punishment for vandalism can be particularly severe in some countries. But what do we see in Nigeria and Africa in general?
Reportedly, the Nigerian security was slow to react to the violence, which included the invasion of the football pitch when the final whistle was blown. And the Ghana players and supporters were left to battle their own way out of the terrible situation.
The police, reports said, beat the rioters with their batons, while it took tear gas on the pitch to disperse the unruly fans.
Even though sometimes, some high profile local and international football matches are replete with some degrees of vandalism, the Nigerian situation is seemingly becoming ” a World Cup norm”.
It is recalled that the Monday 12th February 1973 edition of the then Daily Graphic, had a banner headline: “Ghana Bus Set Ablaze …as Black Stars win in Lagos”.
The story said, “pandemonium broke out at the Lagos Stadium on Saturday (10th February, 1973) soon after the Black Stars had scored their third and winning goal in their World Cup elimination match against Nigeria.
“Stones and bottles were thrown onto the pitch in protest as the Black Stars jubilated.
“But the jubilation could not be sustained when the spectators surged onto the field.
“At this stage, the Lagos State Military Governor, Col. Mobolaji Jonathan, personally led a team of armed personnel to protect the Stars. The troops escorted the Stars off the pitch.
“A rough deal was , therefore, unleashed on the Ghanaian supporters who accompanied the team to Nigeria. It was during this onslaught that the supporters’ bus was set on fire. The wrecked van was still smouldering yesterday morning.
“The Nigerian troops had to use tear gas to disperse the angry crowd. The game was abandoned soon after the Ghanaians had scored the winning goal.”
The Ghana line-up for the game was ; Lante France, Enoch Asumadu, Ayi Acquah, Tetteh Gorleku, Dan Oppong, Sam Amarteifio, John Taylor/Peter Lamptey, Eric Amankwa, Kwasi Owusu , Isaac Eshun and Malik Jabir (Captain).
Readers, the question, therefore, is: For how long will Nigeria continue inflicting violence on Ghana during World Cup qualifying series ?
The question is asked in the context that; unpunished vandalism can provide relief which reinforces the behaviour to recur.
Contact email/ WhatsApp of author:
asmahfrankg@gmail.com (0505556179)
By G. Frank Asmah
Having initiated programs to ensure a foundation of morality, the next step is to have a picture of what success looks like. I keep saying that if you do not have a destination in mind when travelling, you can never arrive.
We therefore as a people, need to set up a development plan which all parties shall ascribe to so that no matter which party is in government, the execution of the plan will not be derailed.
This is the only way that we can make a headway in our developmental agenda. Once we have a plan we are following, it becomes a guiding tool to arrive at the destination we have set for ourselves. It becomes a project that given the necessary key milestones, will help us in monitoring progress.
The next step is to focus on pillars of development i.e. education, health, agriculture and the economy.
The common characteristic of developed countries is the level of education of its citizens.
A highly educated population provides readily available human resource for industrial growth.
A highly qualified population has the potential to innovate, creating value added products for export.
A healthy population is necessary for development. Proactive measures that can prevent epidemics for instance, must be put in place to ensure a healthy populace.
This would require a deliberate investment in health infrastructure as well as training of professionals in the health sector.
Food must be available and must also be affordable and there policies that can ensure the achievement of this objective must be vigorously pursued.
Agro-processing must be prioritised if not completely eliminate post harvest losses and also provide goods for export as part of the effort to stabilize currency.
The power of a nation depends largely on its economic growth. The reason why countries like the US and China wield a lot of influence in the world is because of their wealth.
The way out of poverty as a country, is to industrialise. We need to focus on deliberate effort to promote indigenous control over our natural resources so as to reduce repatriation of huge foreign currency out of the country.
Such initiatives will provide or make available funds for entrepreneurs to access for industrialisation. If we do not prioritise industrialisation, we will permanently not enjoy real independence as a nation because we will have to depend on them to assist in funds for our budget deficit.
Whoever controls how you run your budget literary controls you and therefore the countries who provide budgetary support, controls us. We need to get out of this situation so we can be truly.
The industrialisation cannot be established without companying infrastructure and therefore infrastructure development must be taken seriously into account.
Local expertise must be sought in the infrastructural development. The use of local expertise will help create jobs for the teeming youth the universities churn out every year.
I hope to complete this series next weekend. God bless.
NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’
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AS the world becomes increasingly complex, the role of a president has become more demanding than ever.
The pressure to make life-altering decisions, manage crises, and maintain a sense of calm and composure can take a toll on a president’s mental health.
In recent years, innovative approaches like emotional surgery and emotional elysium have gained attention for their potential to support leaders in managing stress and promoting emotional well-being.
Understanding emotional surgery
Emotional surgery is a groundbreaking approach that utilises art to promote relaxation and reduce stress.
This technique involves the use of colors, geometric shapes, and abstract objects to communicate with the brain and induce a state of calmness.
By leveraging the brain’s ability to process visual information, emotional surgery can help individuals manage anxiety and stress, promoting a sense of calmness and well-being.
The benefits of emotional elysium
Emotional elysium refers to practices that promote emotional well-being and resilience.
This approach focuses on cultivating positive emotions such as gratitude, compassion, and love, to improve overall well-being.
For presidents, emotional elysium can be particularly beneficial in managing the stresses of office and promoting emotional balance.
By incorporating emotional elysium practices into their daily routine, presidents can improve their emotional regulation, increase their resilience, and enhance their overall well-being.
The impact on presidential performance
Both emotional surgery and emotional elysium have the potential to significantly impact a president’s performance.
By managing stress and promoting emotional well-being, presidents can:
- Improve decision-making: Emotional surgery and emotional elysium help presidents make more informed, rational decisions, rather than reacting impulsively to stress or emotions.
- Enhance leadership: Leaders who prioritise emotional well-being are better equipped to build strong relationships with their team and the public.
- Increase resilience: Emotional elysium practices, such as mindfulness and meditation, build resilience, enabling presidents to cope better with challenges and setbacks.
Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosa’s endorsement
Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosa, a respected figure in the medical field, has endorsed emotional surgery as a valuable tool for promoting relaxation and reducing stress.
According to him, emotional surgery can reduce anxiety, improve emotional regulation, and enhance overall well-being.
Conclusion
In conclusion, emotional surgery and emotional elysium are two innovative approaches that have the potential to significantly impact a president’s performance.
By prioritising emotional well-being and exploring these approaches, presidents can improve decision-making, enhance leadership, and increase resilience.
As global challenges become more complex, it is essential for presidents to safeguard their mental health — and these techniques offer a promising solution.
Recommendations
- Presidents should prioritise their emotional well-being: Recognising the importance of emotional balance allows leaders to manage stress effectively.
- Emotional surgery and emotional elysium should be considered: These approaches may offer promising solutions for high-end executives whose emotional well-being affects their performance.
By embracing emotional well-being and exploring innovative interventions, presidents can optimise performance, build stronger relationships, and promote overall well-being.
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