Why Nigerians Should Pray that Aliko Dangote Buys Arsenal FC
As Arsenal Goes So Goes Nigerian Domestic Football League
-Attorney Patryk Utulu***

You no know say na Arsenal kill Nigerian Football Domestic League?

I ask in serious jest, of course. Jestfully, Arsenal FC is metaphor for all of Euro football, UEFA and the continent's corporate marketing machinery. Jestfully also, we all know that it was the rise in popularity of European football that drained life and orgasm from Nigerian domestic football league. But seriously, I do believe the fate of Nigerian domestic football league (renewed mass appeal, follower-ship and investor interest, etc.) is now firmly linked to the whirlwinds of European football.

Yes, I intend to tell you why I believe Arsenal's fate may yet AGAIN affect the fate of Nigerian domestic football league. Here's what I am saying, seriously.

I have just read on Iyke Durumba's timeline that "Arsenal FC, home to the best football humanly possible, has won this season's FA Cup." Of course, we all know that Arsenal has always been a good team and I trust Mr. Durumba's keen sense of observation and precise diction. So what's the implication of the new info? That Arsenal FC's net-worth has just appreciated more than the $1.307 Billion valuation by Forbes. Meaning that Alhaji Aliko Dangote must be doing all that is humanly possible to pass the subjective "fit and proper" tests to clear the way for him to buy the club.

Has the "fit and proper" term upset you? I hope not. It takes more than just raw cash to buy a club like Arsenal FC: the nationality and ethnicity of the buyer must be sniffed and spat at; pretend defense of club "history and tradition" will be used as cover for naked racism; the dubious sentiments of financial boosters and power brokers must be pampered; racial resentment must be assuaged, and many other nameless and unnameable post-primitive snobbery will be duly considered and dutifully denied with trained silver tongues. But Dangote is a Big Boy (at least I hope his lawyers are sophisticated enough) so I should think he is making every necessary trade off to soothe the coiffured feathers of mandarins and make the lives of the silver spoon-born much more comfortable.

What do all these entail? If I tell you I would have to kill you, Lol.

Which brings me back to the mortuary-bound Nigerian domestic football league. I have never met Alhaji Dangote but I have been mapping the patterns of his recent business decisions, and I am good at it. What I have found is that not only is he an astute investor but also, he has his heart firmly set on Nigeria. Meaning? That should European corporate elite and British mandarins let him to pay for a majority stake in Arsenal FC (yes, paying for a majority stake is we call "buying" a club) it would not be long before Dangote would utilize the structural paraphernalia and coattail of Arsenal FC to reboot the moribund Nigerian domestic football league.

Final Note: Just as no nation has ever developed nuclear weapon without using its own "native" language so it is that no nation can consistently produce world class national football team without having a viable domestic league. So make it your daily prayer request to God that Alhaji Aliko Dangote buys Arsenal Football Club.

Or any other top European football club!!!

******
Attorney Patryk A. Utulu
U.S.-based Attorney & Strategic Communications Specialist
Global Defense Analyst and Global Events Commentator
Executive Vice President, Nigerian Diaspora-North America
Executive Director, The Center 4 Community Empowerment & Lifeskills, Inc
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