Samuel Okwaraji: Remembering Nigerian football hero, 31 years after

Sam Sochukwuma Okwaraji was born in Orlu Imo State on the 19th May, 1964. He was a lawyer who had masters in international law from the University of Rome.

Sam was motivated by patriotism and passion to serve his fatherland and dumped his academic credentials and deployed his potentials in Nigeria’s National football Team.

Sam did this for us, he did this for the country he loved, he did this for the only country he could call his own… a country that splashed his father’s blood in a civil war.

In Sam Okwaraji, I see forgiveness.

In Sam Okwaraji, I see a patriot who stirred fellow compatriots and a generation unto a path of nation building and greatness.

Sam slumped and died on the 12th of August, 1989 at the national stadium Lagos in a world cup qualifier between Nigeria and Angola at the 77th minute.

Sam fell to heart attack while advancing the cause of national pride… He is a Hero and naming National Stadium Lagos after him, is long overdue.

It is men like Sam that inspire me.

Sam stood by us even till death.

Sam sang our anthem few hours before his death.

When he stood for the National anthem of Nigeria on that fateful day, Sam saw something.

Sam saw a Nigeria.

He saw a Nigeria worth dying for.

He saw a Nigeria where though tribe and tongue may differ but in brotherhood she stand.

Sam saw what those who see elections a “do or die affair” couldn’t see.

Sam Okwaraji saw what those who plunder our treasury to dryness couldn’t see.

Sam saw what those who spill blood in our farms and villages couldn’t see.

Sam saw what those who stormed a school at Buni Yadi to spill blood of innocent future leaders couldn’t see.

Sam saw what those who abducted school girls at Chibok couldn’t see.

Sam saw what those who invest in terror, who unleash horror on us and willing to bomb their way into power couldn’t see.

I know the Nigeria Sam saw.

It is that same Nigeria Mary Onyali saw, when she strained her body beyond normal to registered her country on Olympic gold medals’ table.

It is that same Nigeria a Professor saw, when she lead a war against fake drugs at the risk of personal safety and went ahead to tell the world that; NIGERIA GOOD PEOPLE GREAT NATION.

It is that Nigeria, men and women who held our flag event till death on and off our shores, who never made it home to see loved ones, but loved ones would have to visit them at their new home; National cemetery.

That Nigeria is still alive. Sam died, but he was never buried with that Nigeria.

The Nigeria Sam had is different from the Nigeria that came under siege at Nyanya.

It is different from the Nigeria terrorism is trying to make us believe in.

It is different from the Nigeria that abducted her little girls and disappeared with them from the radar of conscience and human decorum.

The Nigeria Sam dreamt of, is that same Nigeria that lives in me.

Never would i sacrifice that Nigeria at the altar of the Nigeria terrorism has brought our way.

The promise I made, that the labour of our heroes past shall not be in vain, when i stood on an assembly ground in front of a standing Green White banner, that promise is forever valid and not even terrorism can invalidate it.

The horrific and pathetic situation at hand today is real, but what is more real is the fact that with God on our side, Nigeria shall overcome.

Thank you Sam Okwaraji (1964 – 1989), may your sacrifice never be in vain.

May God heal Nigeria!

…Enenche Enenche Comedian