Far from being a mere past time, sports development ought to be a campaign issue as Nigeria heads towards general elections next month.

Like many things in the developing world, success in sports has been used by politicians to prop up their public image.
From Cairo to Kinshasa, it is not uncommon sight for huge billboards bearing politicians’ smiling faces to adorn stadiums.
It is therefore easy to see why politicians always look to make gains from sports by influencing the choice of players and coaches in the recent case of Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan who insisted for coach Stephen Keshi to continue on the job as well as Cameroon’s President Paul Biya who made sure coaches recalled popular players like Roger Milla and Samuel Eto’o into the Indomitable Lions.
These leaders have milked the glory from the successes of these teams while quietly distancing themselves in times of defeat.
During a recent campaign stop in Lagos, former Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo told the crowd that the Super Eagles’ victory after 19 years at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations came under the watch of President Jonathan.
However, Yobo was silent on the fact that the same team failed to qualify for the 2015 Afcon as defending champions under the President’s watch following his decision to influence the hiring of the coach.
Neither did he remember the failure to qualify for the 2012 edition under the same political leadership of the country.
Although, President Jonathan cannot be entirely held responsible for the country’s failure to qualify for these tournaments even though he is quick to be praised for the victory, it is not lost on watchers that Nigeria needs to pay more than a mere lip service to the development of sports.
As the 2015 general elections inch closer, political leaders need to be asked questions on sports policy, among the many other issues facing the country like insurgency and terror attacks, dwindling economy, corruption and increasing youth unemployment.
For many who believe that sports should not be an issue during elections, it is important to inform them of the potent nature of sports in Nigeria.
When the Super Eagles won the Afcon in South Africa, many Nigerians forgot their tribal, religious and class affiliations and embraced one another with joy.
Sports therefore bring a whole lot of social cohesion to our country.
Apart from this, the economic impact of sports development cannot be overlooked. Many successful footballers, athletes, boxers and weightlifters are the breadwinners of their families.

The funds they send home via wire transfer are part of the US$21b remittances that came Nigeria’s way in 2014, according to the World Bank.
While many Nigerian sports men who excel abroad are economically strong, there is a whole lot of work that needs to be done to ensure that the domestic scene also improves sufficiently in order to make it self-sustaining.

Sports is big business and it goes without saying that a leadership that understands its power would put in place a proper document to develop it from the grassroots.
Hence, a call for sports to be a top agenda in election campaigns is not far fetched. Nigeria has a lot to gain if we can develop the industry to half the standard in the United States of America where a collegiate football league earns more than US$7b in television license fees.
Developing sports would ensure employment for many teeming youths, revenue for schools and content for television.
During a recent Twitter discussion held with the hashtag #SportsPolicy2015, contributors arrived at a few key issues that political leaders need to do.
Part of it includes handing the sports ministry portfolio to credible, passionate sports people who can draw up a proper policy towards growing sports and not just political hangers-on being rewarded with the position.
During the discussion, SuperSport columnist Calvin Emeka Onwuka hammered on the opportunities that Nigeria can harness using sport.
“I have always believed strongly that proper government policies with our huge numbers and weather could make us top in all areas,” he said.
In his submission, Goal writer Solace Chukwu, who analysed the manifesto of both the President’s Peoples’ Democratic Party and leading opposition All Progressives Congress candidate General Muhammadu Buhari.
The President’s party has a vague role for sports as part of cultural mobilization while the opposition candidate had a lot more focus on growing sports from the grassroots.
Chukwu gave his verdict thus: Even though “there were only five bullet points. However, there is a singularity of purpose I find in [Buhari’s] policy, which is the emphasis on the grassroots. Nigeria's glory days in sport can all be traced to a time when collegiate games were encouraged and glamourised. I find this willingness to build enduring grassroots structures very commendable.”
While many people, including politicians, believe that sport is mere entertainment, Nigerians need to realize the economic gains that could be derived from it.
Questions came up after that discussion that Nigerians need to take a very close look at.
-You enjoy sports, therefore, would you vote for a candidate based on their policy towards sports?
-Do you think sports should hold an important place in the manifesto of candidates as we head towards next month’s general elections?
-Can we make the sports minister portfolio more than just a reward for supporters of the President who don’t even have any passion for it?
These and other questions should become a part of every sports lover’s choice of a candidate when Nigeria decides in February.
#Your vote is your power....vote wisely.

Source: goal.com