Daily Independent Online.
*
Monday,July 19, 2004.
South
Africa, the 2010 Mundial and integrity
The staging of the World Cup is not a
mere splendiferous theatricalisation of nothingness. It presents a global
plinth for all nations to come together to reaffirm and endorse our common
humanity; it concretizes the bases of one love and buttresses the tentacles of
unity in our globalisation drive.
That is why prospective hosts and nations bidding to
host the Mundial put in every weapon at their disposal to out-distance other
nations. They put in lobbying, provision of sound stadiums and other logistics
like security, transportation, good accommodation, effective media coverage,
electricity supplies and generic sartorial temperaments by the host nations.
In the race to host the 2010 Mundial, countries like
South Africa, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia
met all the above-mentioned standards. The South African bid-team led and headed by Danny Jordaan,
effectively strategised using their petulant compendium entitled The 2010
Big Book. Their bid
drive was further fuelled by the support of football legends like Franz
Bauckenbaur, Abedi Pele, Roger Miller and George Weah, etc.
Virtually all other countries struggling to host the
2010 Mundial had what South Africa had.
But when South Africa played the card of integrity by bringing in the
quintessential giants like Madiba Nelson Mandela, Bishop Desmond Tutu and
President Thabo Mbeki they created an impenetrable and invulnerable
electro-magnetic zone beyond the reach and accessibility of other
contestants. FIFA kowtowed and the
world rose in thunderous plaudits for South Africa and the virtues inherent in
integrity.
Integrity is an unshakably firm adherence to the
moral principles of candour, honesty, truth, rectitude and
incorruptibility. In our world
where there is a complete dearth of integrity, we are happy that FIFA recognized
one when they saw it. Congratulation FIFA, congratulation South Africa the
world is at your feet. We only
hope you will make all of Africa proud.
We call on all Africans to see this as a victory for all of Africa and
not only for South Africa. We must
all therefore ensure that the successful hosting grants a powerful and
irresistible momentum to the African Renaissance.
Finally, Nigerians and Nigerian leaders must learn
that there is more to life than amassing behemoth wealth through corruption.
There are higher ideals for which a man could devote his life and be applauded
at the psychological moment. In
our country where every known institution is riddled and beclouded by
corruption and planlessness, how can we raise men of integrity? We hope that our only glimmer of hope
in Bishop Olubunmi Okogie, Gani Fawehinmi, Balarabe Musa, Pa Anthony Enahoro,
Wole Soyinka, Dayo Shobowale will not pale into significance. The Bible says in Proverbs 11 verse 3-4 that
“The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the
unfaithful will destroy them.
Riches do not profit in the day of wrath but righteousness and integrity
delivers from death” Nigeria! Nigeria!! Nigeria!!! Where are our men of
integrity?
Bobson Gbinije,
Bogep Oils Ltd,
Warri
