On Sunday, August 24, 2019, the cold hands of death came calling, taking the life of veteran sports administrator of great repute, Prince Isidore Oduah. Oduah was a former member of the Nigeria Football Association, former Vice Chairman Anambra State Football Association and Financial Secretary of the prestigious Association of Sports Veterans of Nigeria. To be honest, my legs have been wobbly since the news of his demise because it was never the kind of news I expected to hear from his end. He was a highly detribalised fellow, whose hands of fellowship remained incomparable till death. Again, his love for sports and his advocacy for governments at all levels to develop the Nigerian child through sports was one of his last wishes.

He never lobbied to reach the peak of his career in advertising hence he was a hot cake between the then big players in the print media industry. Truly, Nigerian sports industry lost yet another great administrator, whose appetite to give back to the industry were never hidden. He was the youngest board member in the NFA of that era. His sterling qualities, diligence and transparent dealings drew him closer to yet another veteran, late Mr Don’t of Nigerian football administrator, Eze BSC Nzenwa whose tenure as the chairman of Rangers International FC was regarded as the watershed in the long years of football club administration in Nigeria. History recorded the way and manner late Eze Nzenwa led the ancient FC to glorious outings and late Prince Isidore Oduah was always nominated by then NFA to lead the delegation.

I remember it as if it was yesterday, the story he told me when he led Rangers International FC in Africa Clubs Champions, now CAF Champions League, against Kampala City Council of Uganda.  The then legendary emperor of the country, Idi Amin Dada asked who was the leader of Nigerian delegation and he came out and the then strongman remarked “you must be a strong and brave man for my friend Yakubu Gowon to approve you to lead your country’s FC team to Uganda of all places,” as he shook hands with him profusely before the kick-off of the crucial leg which he said Rangers International won 2-1. He noted that it was a highly technical and tactical tight game which obviously forced Idi Amin Dada to leave the arena before the curtain for the game was drawn.

Surviving Rangers International FC players of that era can vividly attest to the warmth and benevolence of the man called Prince Isidore Oduah.  He still mentioned to me, just in June that the most regrettable dark side in his decades in football administration was the inability of the present-day administrators to lift Nigerian football beyond where it is today. He lamented Nigeria’s inability to reach at least the quarter-final stage in the senior World Cup level and lastly the fruitless attempts by Rangers International FC to clinch CAF Champions League which continues to hurt fans and passionate football lovers of his ilk.

I agreed with him but noted however that if there was concrete and honest master plan in place, the feat was still achievable and he should not count it as being over yet. He was a constructive critic, whose love for the country and sports are legendary. Yes, Nigeria never honours her finest; Prince Isidore Oduah was one and many out there will consent to this.

 Though Nigeria is a country that plans on earthquake or on the eve of the disarray, nevertheless, Prince Isidore Oduah lived and died an honest Nigerian who never cut corners to get more money into his pocket. The likes of former WAFU supremo, Chief J.B Ogunfere, Peter Osugo, the famous PECOS,, Barrister Agbamu and the present young ones that sat close to elders like Paul Bassey, Amos Adamu, Mitchell Obi, Ikedi Isiguzo, Tony Ubani, Dudu Orumen, Frank Ilaboya etc, can prove this writer, right. Although in this part of the world, once a person is dead everyone speaks well of him and pays glowing tribute but this is not so, as his source of wealth is not hidden. He never commercialised his positions for personal monetary gains as it is in the present Nigerian setup.

He was a goal-getter. The man from Ogbaru, Anambra state never took no for an answer. He was also a very strict disciplinarian. He hates short cuts and never allowed such people to come near him. He hates idlers; he also once told me that whenever he sees such a set of people his stomach turns. Rangers International players led by Christian Chukwu can readily attest to the assertion.  He paid his dues in sports administration and supporter-ship. He led teams that played in Africa Championships in the past especially Rangers International and IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan in the good and great old days.

His era in NFA could safely be described as a golden time as it was when Nigeria won her first-ever continental gold via the Africa Cup of Nations in 1980. He was a great and jolly good fellow who aimed at success in any assignment he was given. Please do forgive me if I kept using the present tense for him.  It is the kind of closeness we had. I am yet to come to terms with the present reality and as I write, my whole body is shaking even as I visualise this very flamboyant and super dresser.

He was very kind and intelligent to a fault. He made his mark in advertising as the Advertisement Manager of The Punch newspapers in the 1970’s and early 1980’s which drew him nearer to the bigwigs of the then multinational companies. Price Oduah was a very hard working fellow who sets a target for himself and would go the extra mile to achieve them. According to him, it was his never say die approach to work that brought him too close to the Publisher of Vanguard newspapers, Chief Sam Amuka of the then famous Sad Sam column in the Daily Times in the 1970s.

I was very close to him and would say I learnt a lot from his way of life and public office. When we discuss, he diligently listens and if there is a challenge, he comes up with an antidote to smoothen the whole stuff. I will miss him the most. He gave me encouragement anytime I was down or low in spirit and beaconed on him. He was so kind and humane. As an Altar Server in the Catholic Church, the virtues of Christ were deep-rooted in him and he showed charity by always giving to the less privileged in the society. He tells you point-blank if you are wrong; corrects you and later gives you a pat on the back. 

If I am not always being reminded of the need for this page to go to bed, I will keep on writing on this epitome of human kindness, knowledge, honesty and a rare humanist. Rest in His bosom sir till that glorious morning. The fact remains that I miss you. Adieu, Dede Ukwu!!

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Sports has always come as a rescue in Nigeria in times of crisis, however, since the coming of Buhari and the APC government, the centre had failed to hold since things fell apart in Nigeria, May 29, 2015, when Nigerians fell to the lying tongues of this Muhammadu Buhari’s regime.

Last week, he assigned portfolios to his 43 man cabinet of recycled politicians after Months of a long wait. This, however, did not come as a surprise to those who already knew that nothing good would come out of anything Buhari.  Sunday Dare is the new Sports Minister.  Lest we forget, he is a journalist and now as Minister of Sports, I am watching keenly how far he will go. He, as usual, is already talking tough as Nigerian public officials are wont.

There are so many things on the ground to put in place as many things went wrong during the tenure of that ‘kindergarten’  called Solomon Dalung. He was one Minister that talks on the drop of a hat, who messed up everything, left behind. Dare has a lot on his hands and the earlier he settles down to face this task squarely, the better if he really wants to leave his footprints in the sands of time; although this term in Nigeria is simply an ugly ruse. Dare is Bola Tinubu’s boy and maybe a sacred cow judging from where he is coming from.

One believes that Dare would do well if he wishes to because he has the pedigree. Daily Sports wishes him well.

 Last week’s write up is still attracting comments from those it touched the nerve centre of their supposed interest.   I am not shaken as I will continue to hit the nail on the head not minding whose ox is gored.

Nigeria is a nation of complexities. You have those who talk or discuss or cover up for the sake of their interests. They are appropriately described as ‘what the stomach will eat set of people.’ We are passionate about what we do and would not be afraid of what people will say after each week’s edition of this column.