okpia

Political Thought & Social Critique | Governance & Rights Advocacy | Strategic Communications | Centering Humanity in Power | lover of football.

[okpia @extrapolateASG]

People criticising Obi Cubana and other young entrepreneurs for associating with government officials are missing a bigger point.

Nigeria is not a perfect democracy. Like many African and Asian countries, political power often outweighs economic power. Governments can witch-hunt businesses, silence critics, freeze accounts, revoke licenses, frustrate operations, or unleash regulatory agencies on anyone perceived as an enemy.

In such a system, neutrality is dangerous and opposition can be expensive.

That is why most big businessmen in Nigeria—like Aliko Dangote (@AlikoDangote) and Femi Otedola (@realFemiOtedola)—maintain relationships with every government in power, no matter how terrible the president is. It is not always about loyalty or ideology. It is about survival and protecting investments that employ thousands of people.

Look at China. Jack Ma challenged the system, and shortly after, his Ant Group IPO was suspended, his companies faced heavy regulations, and his influence shrank drastically. The message was clear: in some systems, billionaires are not more powerful than the state.

Across Africa, businessmen who openly fund opposition or challenge governments have lost contracts, faced tax probes, asset seizures, and regulatory attacks. Nigeria is not different. When the state feels threatened, businesses often pay the price.

So when young entrepreneurs choose diplomacy over confrontation, it is not cowardice. It is strategy.

The real problem is not businessmen who align with governments.
The real problem is a system where businesses must align with power to survive.

Until we fix that system, expecting entrepreneurs to behave like activists is unrealistic.

[okpia @extrapolateASG]

@001Oxygen France 98
Korea/Japan 2002
Germany 06
SA 2010
Brazil 2014
Russia 2018
Qatar 2022 (my least favourite )

[okpia @extrapolateASG]

@nwandu99 @willinilli024 @adeay0 No be me Dey give them power, na wetin dem do already. No be sarcasm go make government mumu.

[okpia @extrapolateASG]

@FlagboyNG @dammiedammie35 Corruption is pervasive throughout Nigerian institutions including the family, police, military and government.

[okpia @extrapolateASG]

This is unnecessary. It's okay to acknowledge a mistake instead of being petty. Criticizing a young player's selection harshly because you don't closely follow his development seems unfair. I've watched many of your interviews with Nigerian players, and you often highlight stories of perseverance, growth, and opportunities. That's why I'm surprised by how critical you've been about the inclusion of players from small leagues. While criticism is part of football, it should be balanced and fair. I believe Maduka Okoye has often been judged more harshly than he deserves because of you. And comments like these can encourage unnecessary hostility rather than objective discussion.

[okpia @extrapolateASG]

@footbolmatter10 Egypt defeated us just before the AFCON, overall we’ve seen improvement in team play and structure compared to the confusion under both Finidi and Eguavoen.

[okpia @extrapolateASG]

Now that one of the relatively low-profile defenders, Abdullahi Bewene, has delivered a performance worthy of recognition, are you willing to admit that your criticism of the coach’s selections may have been premature?

This was a friendly match, and the primary purpose of such games is to allow coaches to assess new players and give fringe players an opportunity to prove themselves. Judging selections before these players have had the chance to be evaluated defeats that purpose.

While many of us would like to see more NPFL players included in the national team, that should not be used as a basis for dismissing players competing in lower divisions across Europe. Those leagues, despite being considered “lower-tier” in Europe, generally offer better infrastructure, player development systems, competitive standards, and exposure than the Nigerian league currently does.

Rather than demanding inclusion based solely on domestic affiliation, the focus should be on improving the quality, organization, and competitiveness of our local league so that its players can earn opportunities on merit and compete effectively for national team places.

[MR OLAWALE QUADRI 🇳🇬 @QualityQuadry]

🚨 Eric Chell has started again.

If we talk now, Nigerians will say we hate him.

I don't understand the reasons behind the panic call ups to the Super Eagles squad for the two friendlies against Poland & Portugal.

Two high-profile players in a striking position pulled out of the friendly games, and your best response as a coach is to invite low-profile defenders to fill their positions.

Now we are left with Simon, Chukwueze, Oseni, Moffi, Akor, and Paul in the absence of Osimhen & Lookman.

A smart coach would have extended the call up to Durosinmi and Yira Sor to fill in Osimhen & Lookman's spot.

[okpia @extrapolateASG]

@QualityQuadry You’re not the coach and you can’t lash out and speak badly about other players simply because your preferred player wasn’t invited. The coach knows why he invited those defenders so you either support them or back off.

[okpia @extrapolateASG]

These are the people screaming that foreigners are stealing jobs and bringing drugs into the country. Yet look at them, many appear intoxicated by drugs, cheap alcohol, or both.
No productive, clear-thinking individual abandons reason to participate in this kind of lawless, destructive behaviour. This is not patriotism; it is ignorance masquerading as outrage. The real tragedy is that those claiming to defend society are openly displaying the very backwardness, disorder, and lack of civility that hold it back.

[okpia @extrapolateASG]

@Tallguyzungu @I_am_Munaa Your illiterate mind stinks to the high heavens.

[okpia @extrapolateASG]

https://t.co/0ze57VVQUS

[okpia @extrapolateASG]

Public figures, especially footballers, are often expected to date women who fit conventional beauty standards shaped by media culture and social media, typically women with model-like physiques. Because of this pressure, relationships that fall outside those expectations can attract unfair public scrutiny.

Declan Rice is as an example of someone who does not conform to that stereotype. His partner has faced significant online criticism and body-shaming because she does not fit the image many people expect from the partner of a high-profile footballer. Much of the abuse has come from both men and women on social media.

This kind of public reaction may contribute to why many young footballers feel pressured to choose partners who fit socially accepted beauty ideals, partly to avoid media attention, ridicule, or online bullying directed at their relationships.

[TobyWrites @tobyasky]

You’ll never find footballers with chubby ladies, why?

Dem no like yansh? If not for any other reason.

[okpia @extrapolateASG]

@instablog9ja That’s great. You’re better off living alone paying your own rent and never considering marriage outside Africa.

[okpia @extrapolateASG]

@ManCity @pelizy This is really cute and emotional

[okpia @extrapolateASG]

Governor Otti, in a recent interview, stated that his administration has completed 414 road projects covering about 864.12km, while another 82 road projects spanning about 212km are currently under construction across Abia State.

So, for your argument to hold water, you also need to present verifiable statistics instead of repeatedly showing videos of one flyover project that the Edo State Government has been using as its major achievement since coming into office.

More importantly, good governance goes beyond road construction. It includes quality healthcare, education, security, workers’ welfare, economic development, transparency, and improved living conditions for the people.

[okpia @extrapolateASG]

The establishment in South Africa is sponsoring a few unemployed people to distract the public from confronting reality, all in an effort to maintain the status quo.

[okpia @extrapolateASG]

You’re missing the point I was making. Comparing the salaries of professional footballers to Nigeria’s minimum wage is misleading, especially when players in the National League have reportedly earned up to £5k a month. Examples like Jamie O’Hara and Jermaine Pennant was to show well-known former professionals who played in the National League towards the end of their careers and were reportedly earning figures around that amount.

[okpia @extrapolateASG]

@0kufo Did they play for national league and non league teams at the end of their career and earned up to the quoted figures or not ?

[okpia @extrapolateASG]

@omaakatugba Timothy Weah also known as Tim Weah is on the list.