NIIA Diplomacy Wall of Fame has started journey to restitution, says Ehizuelen

Olympian, Charlton Ehizuelen (left); Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Olympians, Dr. Godwin Obasogie and Dr. Bruce T. Ijirigho, during a courtesy visit by former Nigerian athletes and Olympians, at the Government House, Benin City…yesterday.<br />

Baba Otu Mohammed advocates inclusiveness in football administration From 1976 up to 1979, Charlton Ehizuelen was the world’s best long and triple jumper. He held all the world marks such that his closest rivals, Rod Laver and Willie Banks, were forced to play catch up to the regal Nigerian.

Ehizuelen was so good that there was no doubt that the Montreal 1976 Olympics triple jump gold medal was his for the taking. Given the tough opposition he expected in Canada, Ehizuelen spent the better part of 1974 and 75 preparing for his day of glory at the Olympics.

Unfortunately, however, his dream of climbing to the stars was shattered on the eve of the Games, when the Nigerian government ordered its athletes to leave their camp in Canada and return home.

The decision to boycott the Games was in reaction to the western world’s tacit support of the Apartheid regime in South Africa, demonstrated by the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) patronising attitude to New Zealand, which chose to play a friendly rugby game against South Africa.

Although the Olympics’ boycott was applauded by many, as it sent a clear message to all the supporters of Apartheid, it devastated the athletes, who were so close to stardom, yet could not achieve their dreams.

Worse still, when the team returned to Nigeria, rather than compensate the athletes for their sacrifice, the Federal Government abandoned them to their own devices, leaving most of them broken and helpless.

And so, it was a pleasant surprise