At Last, Garlands for Nigeria’s Montreal ‘76 Heroes 

Duro Ikhazuagbe 

Forty-seven years after Nigeria led 26 other African countries (including Iraq and Guyana) to boycott the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada, the country’s athletes received heroes welcome in Lagos on Friday. It was only the first time that the 20 athletes, 17 footballers, three boxers and one swimmer will be receiving official handshakes for their patriotism and support in the fight against apartheid regime in South Africa. They have also been immortalised in a Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos.

It was amazing seeing most of these athletes who are now in their late 60s and early 70s smile again. Their tears have been wiped clean by an individual, not government of Nigeria. Allen Onyema, the driving force behind Air Peace Airline, did not spare anything to say ‘Thank You’ to these 41 athletes and by extension, Nigeria’s 1980 AFCON winning team.

For athletes that trained for years ahead of the Games in Montreal, their expectations were high. In that team, Nigeria had world leading jumper, Charlton Ehizuelen. He was a sure podium candidate. Given surprises that happen at games of such magnitude with 6,084 athletes from 92 countries in attendance, Ehizuelen was certain to hang a medal on his neck, perhaps, Nigeria’s first Olympic gold. So were the likes of Godwin Obasogie (110m hurdles), Bruce T. Ijirigho (400m/4x400m), Modupe Oshikoya (long jump), Gloria (Ayanlaja) now Obajimi (400m), Obisia Nwankpa (boxing), Davidson Andeh (boxing) and the Nigerian Olympic football team. That Olympic Eagles defeated several European teams in warm up matches ahead of the men’s Olympic football event. Amongst countries Nigeria defeated included Canada that ended up playing up to the semi final stage of the tournament.

But barely a day to the opening ceremony, these athletes were summoned by the then Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Sports in Africa (SCSA), Nigeria’s Abraham Ordia. They were told in plain language that they were no longer going to compete at the Games. Several African countries including Nigeria had decided to boycott the Games in protests against International Olympic Committee’s indifference to calls for the withdraw of New Zealand from the Montreal Games. The New Zealanders continued their romance with apartheid South Africa, allowing their rugby team to tour that enclave despite calls from rest of the world for sports sanction against that obnoxious regime. With the boycott, IOC then ordered all protesting countries to vacate the Games Village within one hour. That was how the dreams of these Nigerian athletes crashed. Hopes of becoming famous Olympians varnished!

Then Nigerian Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo sent a brand new DC 10 Nigerian Airways to bring the athletes back to the country. These heroes and heroines departed for their various destinations without any form of compensation or reception.

It was against this backdrop that Onyema, who had in the past exhibited uncommon patriotism, helping to repatriate stranded Nigerians from xenophobic atmosphere in South Africa and war ravaged Sudan, consulted a member of both the Montreal ‘76 football and 1980 AFCON teams, Segun Odegbami, on how best to honour these patriotic Nigerians. The fallout is the Wall of Fame erected at NIIA and unlimited free passage for these worthy Nigerians on Air Peace flights for the rest of their life time. He also handed out a token of N1.5million to each of them at a dinner held at Eko Hotel on Lagos Island on Friday night.

Some of the athletes who spoke with THISDAY expressed heartfelt appreciations to Onyema for remembering them and wiping their tears .

Ehizuelen said: “I was the best jumper in the world in 1976. I was sure going to win the long jump gold medal. They (Nigeria) stopped me from taking the gold. They didn’t tell me why and the reason why I was not going to compete. They just asked us to board the plane back to Nigeria. Ever since, that feeling of not competing to take the gold never left me. It never left my other colleagues because we talk about it all the time. For this ceremony to happen, Dr Onyema who has done this in conjunction with the Segun Odegbami and the NIIA, may God bless them. They have done something historical. What happened in 1976 changed the world. Because of the killings in Soweto barely one month to the Games, Africa didn’t really have a voice but made a loud statement with the boycott and the world began to take Africa serious. It was a massive blow to the Games. In my research the next day, I discovered over 1000 newspapers around the world reported Africa’s boycott of the Games. This further educated the world about what was happening in then South Africa.

“So this Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame is really important. It shows the sacrifices that we made in the struggle against apartheid South Africa by boycotting Montreal ‘76 didn’t go down in vain.”

Ehizuelen confirmed that when he heard about the Programme, he almost did not want to come. “I thought it was going to be those usual government gimmicks. Most of us were in our 20s and just to take us out like that with no compensation from the government was certainly not how to do things. But when  Segun (Odegbami) continued to speak on it and told us the person behind the project, we said ok, let’s give it a try. But seeing all these here today, I feel great that at last, we have been honoured. God will continue to bless Onyema,” concludes Ehizuelen who along with Ijirigho, Imadiyi, Obasogie and several others were products of the Samuel Ogbemudia sports revival of old Midwest/Bendel at Afuze Games Village.

Another member of the team, Gloria (Ayanlaja) Obajimi said she is now fulfilled and has forgiven Nigeria over the boycott of Montreal ‘76 Games. “ This is how things should be done. You just don’t abandon and forget young athletes who were deprived the opportunities of becoming Olympians and medalists without any compensation or honour. Barrister Onyema and the NIIA and all others involved in this Wall of Fame have done a massive job. We are now going to be forever in history with this Wall of Fame. I feel fulfilled. God bless Onyema.”

She however hinted that her teammate, Modupe Oshikoya could not make the trip to Nigeria for the ceremony because she just had a hip surgery.

“Modupe (Oshikoya) could not make it. She had a hip surgery two weeks ago in America. She really would have loved to be part of this epoch event of honoring us.”

Speaking at the unveiling of the Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame earlier in the day, former Minister of Foreign Affairs who was Director General of NIIA when Nigeria boycotted the Games, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, admitted that these athletes were never honored for their patriotism. “I was the DG of NIIA when Nigeria boycotted the Games. I am one of those who inflicted the pains of missing out of the Olympics on them. We also didn’t provide a reception to honour them. 

“Today, 47 years after, I am happy for what Allen Onyema has done. I want you to regard what happened (missing the Games) as part of your sacrifice to winning the fight against the apartheid regime and colonialism in Africa,” observed Akinyemi. Interestingly, Akinyemi who chaired the event, stood in for Obasanjo who was at the fore front of the boycott.

Convener of the event, Onyema said he offered to honour these worthy former Nigerian athletes because most of them could not fulfill their dreams.

“I really do not know much about the Montreal ‘76 Games because I was barely 10 years old then. I love Nigeria and do not have any apology for that. No amount is too much to honour those who have sacrificed for Nigeria. Even in death, I will continue to smile forever in my grave when I see my legacy making Nigerians happy.

“I was moved seeing some these former athletes in tears of joy, seeing their names on the Sports Diplomacy Wall of Fame at the NIIA. Now, they feel fulfilled and that their sacrifices have not been forgotten. That gives me joy,” observed the Air Peace Chairman.

Director General of the NIIA, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, similarly felt elated, the foremost institute playing such noble role in honoring the Montreal ‘76 athletes and the 1980 AFCON winning team. He praised both Odegbami and Onyema for the initiative and hope it has sent the right signal to Nigerians that their is reward in sacrifice for the country.

At the event to lend support to the event were two world renowned athletes Tanzania world record holder in 1,500m Filbert Bayi and USA’s 1968 Olympic gold medalist Ron Freeman. They both admitted that Onyema has opened a new chapter on how to honour past athletes. “Even in the states (USA) we have never seen anything like this. We only have Hall of Fame in colleges (universities). This is great and I am proud to be here. My late friend, Lee Evans was Nigerian track & field coach for several years in Nigeria and got used to most of the athletes that are being celebrated here today,”concludes Freeman who won gold medal in the 4x400m  as well as a bronze medal in men’s 400m at Mexico ‘68.

16 members out of the 41 athletes that boycotted the Montreal Games have died. The include; Kola Abdullahi (100m/4x100m), Edward Ofili (100m, 200m,4x100m), John Okoro (long jump), Moses Akporowho (long jump), Dele Udoh (400m, 4c400m), Taiwo Ogunjobi (400m hurdles), Joseph Erico(football), Mudashiru Lawal (football), Kelechi Emeteole (football), Haruna Ilerika (football), Adekunle Awesu (football), Thompson Usiyen (football), Alloysius Atuegbu (football), Jide Dina (football), Samuel Ojebode (football), and Davidson Andeh (boxing).

Also, six members of the 1980 AFCON winning squad have passed on. They include; Best Ogedegbe, Okey Isima, Tunde Bamidele, Mudashiru Lawal, Martin Eyo and Alloysius Atuegbu.