http://punchng.com/sometimes-contemplate-running-another-country-okagbare/

How was Rio 2016 generally like for you?
It didn’t feel like an Olympic for me but
not because I didn’t win a medal. This is
my third Olympics and I have been to
Olympics that everything was so cheerful
and the athletes were very happy. But for
this Rio, I don’t know about other people
in Team Nigeria as I’m speaking for myself,
the morale was just low. Some of the girls
come to me and we talk. Some times when
they say these things (about how bad they
feel), I just feel like these people feel the
same way I feel. Everything about Rio was
just low. This is the worst Olympics we’ve
had.
Was it about the preparations?
Prior to coming here was bad, I don’t
understand what they wanted us to do in
Rio. At times you go to other countries,
mix with the athletes and you see a people
getting quality support. But it’s not so
with the Nigerian contingent. It comes to
a point where you just try to do everything
for the sake of your passion as well as for
your fans.
How long will you keep running; how long
are we going to see you actively on the
tracks?
There are certain things that if you were
doing them for other countries, you would
have been far better than what you are
now but with Nigeria it’s like an advanced
labour issue. You do it but it’s like you
don’t see what you work for. I’m
sponsored by Nike and it’s a job for me,
it’s a career. I do have a lot of setback,
which has affected me for two years in a
row but I might take a break and people
won’t even see that. I don’t know how
many more years I really want to stay on
for. I have not taken any break yet, and
people don’t see that I have been going
hard every year. I might take a break and
come back hopefully before 2020.
And when you return we expect you to
blast off again; go full blast in medal
chase?
The way I am, I don’t talk about medal
this, or medal that. I’m not one who
predict things or say what I am going to
win before any competition, so I avoid
answering questions like this.
Talking about medals I was watching you
before the Rio 100m race. I saw you
bending for a long time, were you
reluctant to run?
No, I wasn’t reluctant to run, I was ready
and I felt like I was in the best shape of my
life coming here (Rio Olympics). It still
surprises me (how things turned out). I
posted something on Facebook that there
are certain things that don’t make sense,
there are things that you just don’t
understand.
Like what?
Like this competition, I put in my
commitment despite having good reasons
to stay away. I had some injuries but I
worked so hard to come in here (Rio), and
when the competition started it was just
different; it was just like I wasn’t in it.
Did your injuries and mindset affect your
general performance?
I don’t know, I was still trying my best,
but you don’t force it. You just get in line
and run, because you’ve been doing that
training already. I can’t explain it, so let’s
leave it there. When you go to a major
championship, you don’t think too long.
You don’t have that time.
When I spoke with weightlifter Mariam
Usman, she said if the Nigerian situation
continues the same way, she would just
take a break. Are you thinking that way
too?
No, no, I can’t tell you what I’m thinking; I
don’t let people get into my head. That’s
personal. But talking about Rio, it’s been
the worse we’ve had mentally, physically.
The atmosphere is too cold; it’s been very
cold out there. No encouragement at all.
I was in London too, we didn’t win
anything but the athletes looked more
determined than in Rio…
I went to Beijing when I was 19. I was so
young and naive. Beijing was one of the
best Olympics for us; we had entitlements,
encouragement and all. They supported us
and we were quite encouraged. But in Rio
it’s like all they just wanted was for you to
show your face and leave. I don’t know
but it’s as if they didn’t want us to come
here. Last time I heard the minister say a
gold medal winner would get $2000 and I
asked ‘is that what a gold medal is worth?’
And before I knew, it was actually in the
media. You don’t bring that kind of stuff
to athletes in the name of encouragement
because we know what other athletes from
other countries get. It’s been a problem
and every year, I wish things would be
different. At times it would be like should I
move to another country? But you may
understand why I refused to change. It’s
my career and my passion so I enjoy it and
that is what drives me. And that’s why I
am still on the track and for Nigeria.

Make we no allow Blessing go the way of Gloria Anozie; make will make dem comfortable