EAGLE EYE Today, I take my muse – with a lot of motivation, inspiration, and psychological boost – from a Yoruba adage that literally says ‘a ram goes backwards to gather strength.’ That adage would become more meaningful if you get an opportunity to watch a bout of rams.
That’s what we used to see years back, when Muslim kids took their father’s Ileya ram out for a walk, in the guise of going for a feed, but actually to get it into a challenge of horns with the ram of any boastful bully next door.
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As it were, before a ram slams its head into that of its foe or rival, it must first backpedal, then come charging forward with full force. So, the long-standing Yoruba adage got it right in providing a symbolic extension to the ram’s tale from the human point of view – a wise man can go back in time to solve problems of the present.
That inference came to my mind earlier this week when more drama unfolded in the now prolonged saga that has become a multifaceted riddle of dancing chairs around the length and breath of Lagos SWAN – where we see a semblance of how Cleopatra held Antony under a spell and Rome paid the price.
Yes, without trying to play smart, we must own up that the Lagos State chapter of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (aka Lagos SWAN) is currently in the news for the wrong reason, regarding yet another struggle for keys to the office.
That expression is both literal and metaphoric, considering that the association’s lofty secretariat inside the premises of Lagos National Stadium is currently under lock, as the last occupiers of the office refused to hand over as directed by a higher authority. So sad!
Yes, it’s a very sad development … and that’s where the issue of going backwards to gather strength comes in. That’s because right thinkng people opted to look backwards for solutions to stem the tide and stop the slide at Lagos SWAN. Yes, solutions are needed in a jiffy because our baby has gone off track!
That derailment was caused by insidious factors rolled together into five words – youthful exuberance and juvenile delinquencies. The crux of the matter, with all sense of humility and apologies to credible members of Gen-Z in the current scheme of things at Lagos SWAN, is that lack of maturity has exposed the body’s current leaders and they just have to be called to order. Another Yoruba adage says, ‘The elder cannot be in the market and the child’s head is bent.’
So, who do you call when children of today are playing games of self-destruct? The elders, of course! Where do you get elders who can teach an errant kid sensible steps? Back in time, of course. What do you do when today’s problems defy modern solutions? Go back in time to get ideas that worked wonders and begin to replicate them.
So, the national body of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria dug up its archives and brought forth a veteran of the trade, Patrick Omorodion (aka Pato) to bring Lagos SWAN back to life … and signs of stability are already emerging across the initially stormy pond. Yes, the stormy pond that was on the verge of gulping our humble and pretty swan is now calm, with the return of a serene ambience that radiates signs of more halcyon days to come.
Now, the innocent and meek swan that was beginning to drown is once again flapping its wings and swimming delightfully … simply because a quick thinking head in Abuja thought it wise to go back to the old school in search of answers to today’s debilitating riddle.
Now we can talk about a semblance of that old-time religion that was good for Paul and Silas. We can now reflect on the past to build on the present and plan for the future. We can think of a better tomorrow for Lagos SWAN … because we went back to our glorious past in search of answers to today’s thorny riddle and pick solutions to end the stormy saga.
As it were, ‘Pato’ and his ‘normalisation committee’ could not access the secretariat, but they did not allow locks and keys derail their mission. They put maturity into practice and did it the way our ancestors met in open space ‘under the apple tree’ yet always arrived at great decisions that can last an eternity.
As it were, old and not-so-old veterans of Lagos SWAN have all thrown their weight behind ‘Pato’ to put things right and get back the keys. They know ‘Pato’ can get the keys back, because he was around in the first place, when the exco led by Honourable Frank Ilaboya got that place for us.
‘Pato’ was there when Lagos SWAN grew into glorious light from the dark confines of the indoor sports hall of the National Stadium. He was there when we gathered for leisure and refreshment near the gates of SportsCity. He was there when we got an ex-international, Pastor Taribo West to sponsor our 5-a-side football competition. He was there when we joined Mr Segun Runsewe to organise Marwa Cup.
Without any fear of contradiction, none of those now fighting to hold unto the reins of Lagos SWAN know these stories that I’ve just onlined. None of them know Fan Ndubuoke. None of them know Tony Ubani. None of them knew Emeka Enechi (RIP). No wonder they will not bat an eyelid to destroy the house they did not build.
Fortunately, many wise men of the Lagos SWAN generation before mine are still alive and kicking, more from my generation are still very vibrant and some of the present generation have learnt to wash their hands properly (so that they can dine with elders).
That’s why they went back in time to bring out one of the elders, who has now rallied other elders along with him. Through wise counselling, he has gathered a few Gen-Z – those not already befuddled by the deceptive ease that social media has given journalism … and a ray of hope is suddenly appearing on the horizon (with an inkling that Lagos SWAN will soon get back to its best days).
