‘I’m ashamed of this government’: Nigerian sports stars abroad condemn #EndSARS protesters’ killings

LIKE most of their compatriots, Nigerian sports stars based outside the country are outraged by the killings of unarmed protesters by security forces.

Scores of Nigerian youths peacefully protesting for the end of police brutality have either been arrested or killed by the police and soldiers in the last few days.

The situation escalated in Lagos on Tuesday night as soldiers allegedly opened fire on protesters in Lekki who defied the state government’s curfew to hold a sit-in on the expressway.

Odion Ighalo, who plays for Manchester United, uploaded a video on Twitter moments after his team’s UEFA Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain in Paris on Tuesday night.

“I’m sad and heartbroken; I don’t know where to start from,” a sombre Ighalo, who was an unused substitute in the match, said.

 “I’m not the kind of guy that talks about politics but I can’t keep quiet anymore on what’s going on back home in Nigeria. I’ll say the Nigerian government, you guys are a shame to the world, for killing your own citizens, sending the military to kill unarmed protesters because they’re protesting for their rights?

 “It’s uncalled for. Today 20th October 2020 you people will be remembered in history as the first government that sent the military to the city to start killing their own citizens.

 “I’m ashamed of this government. We’re tired of you guys and we can’t take this anymore. I’m calling the UK government, calling all those leaders in the world to please see what’s going on in Nigeria and help us. Help the poor citizens. 

“The government are killing their own citizens. We’re calling you guys, the UN, to see to the matter. And I want to call my brothers and sisters back home to remain safe, be indoors, please don’t come out because this government they’re killers and they’ll keep killing if the world doesn’t talk about this. God bless you all. Please remain safe. One Nigeria.”

An obviously angry John Ogu, the Super Eagles midfielder, tweeted after news of the Lekki killings emerged, adding three broken heart emojis: “The Politicians should ask their children to go and represent Nigeria in the next @NGSuperEagles , @thenff upcoming games. I’m so devastated like right now.”

After making a video suing for peace and pledging his support to the cause, Nigerian-born world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua tweeted: “The situation has escalated, the violence and killings are horrendous. All because of people saying they want to live in peace?

“I pray God opens the gates for the heroes of Nigeria! This was never a trend for me! It’s real life and I want to learn how to make lasting change. I’m looking at hospitals to support, along with food and care packages in the time being.”

Kamara Usman, the mixed martial arts champion based in the United States, also made a video condemning the government’s actions.

“It’s tough right now for me to understand what is going on in my own country and how things have gotten to this point,” the UFC superstar said in the video.

“This is something that’s been a long time coming, dating all the way back to my father’s generation and generations after that. But as things start unfolding right now, it’s so heartbreaking to watch all of this destruction, all of this chaos going on.

 “How has this been going on for so long that you can’t just come out, open your arms and speak to your children, your country. Talk to us. It’s not ‘my fellow citizens’ or stuff like that. We’re all your children, Mr Buhari, and you just can’t come out and lay it out for us. You’ve been elected as our president to lead us and you guys have failed and have been failing for a long, long time. That’s how it’s gotten to this point. Now it’s time to wake up, time to stand up, time to change.”

In a reply to Usman’s video, Israel Adesanya, another Nigerian-born UFC superstar,  based in New Zealand, simply wrote: “They don’t really care about us.”

Erica Ogwumike, a Nigerian basketball star based in the United States, added her own voice, writing: “’I am not African because I was born in Africa… but because Africa was born in me.’”― Kwame Nkrumah

“Sending strength & prayers to the rising generation of young people in Nigeria standing strong, making sure their voices are heard. #EndSARS. “Worldwide, we stand with you.”