General Olusegun Obasanjo, withdrew Nigeria from the Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada because of South Africa in 1976.
South Africa was under Apartheid—a brutal system where Blacks were oppressed and humiliated in their own land by the Whites.
It was a crime to mix with the whites. They have separate schools, public transport, beaches, restaurants, toilets, hospitals, separate environment etc. Whites released dogs on blacks without consequences.
Now New Zealand, went to South Africa to play rugby ignoring the global boycott against South Africa’s for the oppression against blacks.
Obasanjo demanded action by telling the Olympics committee to ban New Zealand from the Olympics but they refused.
So, Obasanjo withdrew Nigeria from the Olympics. The Nigeria athletes were already in Montreal.They had trained for over a year, had sacrificed everything and were ready.
Then the order came from Obasanjo; Pack your bags and come back to Nigeria.
The Nigeria Athletes cried, some were heavily heartbroken.
Immediately, Over 25 African nations followed by withdrawing their own team from the Olympics.
Obasanjo’s decision became a movement, one of the greatest sporting protests in history.
In 1994, apartheid ended and Nelson Mandela became President of a free nation.
Today in South Africa, Blacks and whites live as one and represent under one flag.
But as for the Nigeria Athletes, some never got another chance to fulfill their Olympics dream again, some carried that pain to the grave without forgiving Obasanjo.
But the decision Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo made was bigger than sport and it was a decision for humanity.
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MBET SAMUEL
Former Nigeria under17 Striker
