Oruma… Loved by Nigerians, haunted by old wounds

Wilson Oruma

In his book, titled, The Gods are not to blame, the late Nigerian playwright, Ola Rotimi, wrote that man’s struggles begin at birth. However, for former Golden Eaglets captain and Super Eagles midfielder, Wilson Oruma, his life struggles did not begin at childhood. Rather, it started much later after a blissful football career.

In his attempt to establish a business empire for himself on retirement from active football, Oruma ‘walked’ into the hands of fraudsters, who claimed to be in possession of some oil blocks they wanted to sell.

They talked the two-time African Nations Cup bronze medallist into withdrawing his investments across Europe and other life savings for the ‘oil business.’ He did not suspect any foul intention, but things turned out differently and Oruma lost everything he had laboured for. He was left in a confused state of mind for about two years. That was about six years ago.

However, despite his travails, Oruma stuck to the old Warri adage of never-say-die. But the more he tries to weather the storm, the more challenges he encounters.

Last week, a publication by a national daily portrayed Oruma as sick and helpless. Titled, ‘Oruma: The travails of an Olympic medalist, the publication, among other issues, stated that a video clip showed that Oruma was lying helpless in an unidentified hospital on a drip, snoring on his sick bed and receiving treatment via urinary catheters.

Oruma told The Guardian during the week that the publication was not only a big shock to him, but also to his family members, friends and business associates.

The Atlanta ’96 Olympics gold medallist was forced to speak through a video clip from his residence at the Victoria Garden City (VGC) in Lagos, explaining his present