There is a wind of change blowing mercilessly over the Mediterranean.  It is the fulfilment of a most unlikely prediction by Gore Vidal, renowned American novelist, essayist and political activist whose views on American and global politics have always been controversial and almost fatalistic, to say the least.. The ongoing political upheavals in some parts of North Africa and the Arab world are not only of history-making dimension, they are also a sharp reminder of an interview I read in Penthouse magazine many years ago granted by Gore Vidal. The interview made such an impression on me that, almost 20 years later, I can still recall the substance of the views Mr. Vidal expressed then. I was drawn to the interview by the stature of the man and the nature of the publication he spoke to. Both, just did not fit together. I never, before then, considered Penthouse, the American adult magazine, as a medium for serious discourse on issues of a political nature. So, in ‘awe and shock’ here I was face to face with an exclusive interview with Gore Vidal, one of the most respected and revered political commentators in America at the time, inside the pages of this publication, discussing politics in America and a projection into the state of the world in the 21st Century. Thats why the contents of that interview have remained etched in the inner recesses. I had known about Gore Vidal and his erudition having struggled to read two of his often ‘not-so-easy-to-read’ novels. His views on any subject matter were not those that could be disregarded or dismissed. He always made such compelling arguments to support his thoughts that I recall paying particular attention to his vision of the world as we approached the turn of the last Century!  I am unable to quote him verbatim but I vaguely recall he spoke of a new world order that was to come in the wake of a global people’s revolution. This revolution, he said, would not be led by any one individual but by a movement of people. In short, it would have no leader; the people would ‘explode’ spontaneously and uncontrollably in every part of the world where they were not free and were being oppressed; that the revolution would usher in a new world political order. He warned that the revolution was imminent and inevitable, and may actually ‘destroy’ the world the way we knew it! Somewhere in that interview also, I believe, I read his derisive comments on the quality of persons running for presidency of America; how he thought they were not intellectually sound enough for position of president of the most powerful and most complex nation on earth. He foresaw that America would one day elect a dictator into the White House. His views were always that controversial and caustic.

That was many years ago, well before the end of the last Century. Yet, I can still recall his chilling words and damning prophecy, and somewhere in my mind, I stored the information away and waited and kept observing developments in the world to see the revolution come. Thats why I am riveted to the present rumpus in some Arab and North African countries as they gather torrential momentum and continue to spread like wild fire. Gore Vidal’s chilling words have come flooding back to my mind. It is here already, the revolution he spoke about that would affect governance in the world like no other event in recent human history! Remember the following: he said the revolution would have no leader; he said it would be spontaneous and explosive; he said the people would just rise from the debris of despair and unite against the tyranny of their leaders; he said they would say ‘No more’ to further suppression and oppression, and demand instead for reforms and change; he said the force of the movement would overwhelm the governments, and that the revolution would bring to an end dictatorships and authoritarian governments. All these things are happening now! I recall that he might also have said that the result of this revolution will be the emergence of new leaders who might have had nothing to do with the revolution itself but who will now shape the future of mankind. Perhaps, thats why I am intrigued by one of his most famous and most controversial quotes: ‘Any American who is prepared to run for president should automatically, by definition, be disqualified from ever doing so’. So, at this time in human history, his words, expressed decades ago, have now become a reality. The huge tidal wave of a political revolution is here and is spreading and sweeping away dictatorships and leaderships that have held on to the rungs of power in a vice-like grip for years, perpetuating themselves and their cronies in power. The leadership of the entire Middle East and North African Arab countries face the real threat of their people riding the crest of this freedom-call to demand an end to authoritarian rule, the monopoly of power, perpetuation and self-succession in office, oppression of the opposition, and a call for the entrenchment of democracy. The leaderships of Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen and now Libya, have been having a taste of the bitter pill of this revolution. This fire is likely to engulf more countries and organisations around the world, including several in our constituency of sport.

Sports Revolution!

Since life abhors a vacuum and no part of it exists in isolation of others, no aspect of humanity will be immune from the effects and impact of this political revolution that is sweeping the world, including sports administration that is led by some of the world’s most powerful ‘maximum rulers’. Their list is impressive and their history instructive of why change is now inevitable. Through the decades, a few persons have dominated and monopolised the leadership of sport. Check this short list: In the International Olympic Committee, IOC, Avery Brundage was president of the organisation for 20 years; Juan Antonio Samaranch for 21 years; and the present president, Jaques Rogge, has been at the head for 10 years and still counting. In football, Jules Rimet ruled FIFA for 25 years; Stanley Rous for 13, Joao Havelange for 24 years and current Sepp Blatter for 13 and he has indicated he still has several more years of service to render! In the Confederations, president of Concacaf, Jack Warner, has led the American body for 20 years and will re-contest as he has done in the past when his tenure ends this year. Issa Hayatou, his African counterpart, has been president of CAF for 23 years and does not seem ready to step aside soon. None of these people would contest re-election and not return. That is the established tradition festered by the power of money and incumbency which feeds the insatiable appetite of those that preach democratic principles but enjoy dictatorship because it benefits them personally. Yet, the beacon of global democracy that drives the most powerful political office in the world, the American presidency, allows a maximum tenure of only two terms of 4 years each for any president. This serves as a check to prevent the evolution of the sort of oppressive governments that have created the present political turbulence that has engulfed parts of the world. Being a part of the larger polity, a revolution in world football (and indeed sports as a whole) in the very near future is, therefore, not only inevitable but also imminent! It will happen sooner than later. Just as Gore Vidal predicted, the revolution may have no leader(s); it will be the product of a spontaneous reaction of people frustrated by dictatorial leadership that does not reflect their best interests in football. Football politics have bred dictators in administration in many parts of the world, particularly the Third World. Football must avert the sort of catastrophe that has befallen the Mediterranean. African football needs new faces and new people.

Revolution in Nigeria

The ‘local champions’ in Nigerian football that have built a cult around the governance of Nigerian football and have been attempting to perpetuate their stay in office, must have a quick rethink. Their actions, so far, have not been the product of true democratic principles or practise. Thats why when they manipulate the system, alter the statutes, instal puppets to perpetrate their clandestine plans, defy and abuse court orders, corrupt the system, and keep the owners and followers of the game helpless and hopeless, and make the people swallow the pills of unacceptable and immoral values, they are only postponing the evil day. So bad is what we have now as governance of Nigerian football (and indeed all sport) that one day soon we shall witness the people’s revolution, when spontaneously, explosively, without any discernible leadership, the people shall rise and say ‘enough’ of this shenanigans, and proclaim that they want change through the establishment of authentic democratic rules and principles where the power of football will derive from and belong to the people.. When that time comes, as it surely would, no force can stop them.

I feel very sorry about the present state of Nigerian football. The sport has been decimated by conflict and all Nigerians have been rendered impotent by fear of the repercussion of doing what they know is right and just. They therefore look on in total helplessness, unable to do anything to rescue the game. What is needed is a sports revolution. When the people become fed-up with their complicity in the present shame that is football administration in the country, they will one day rise up in a spontaneous reaction and tell all those that have been a part of desecrating their sport to step aside and allow democracy and the respect for the constitution of the country and the rule of law to prevail. The people must have a say in the constitution and administration of their sport. They must have the power to elect those that will best represent them and serve their interest and that of their national sport. They must have the power to demand accountability. They must have the freedom to express their views and opinions. That is the revolution that must come and will come soon!  The fire of justice will soon consume Nigerian football. Like Gore Vidal said many years ago, the people’s reaction will be spontaneous. Nigerians shall wake up one day and find the youths protesting against all vestige of dictatorship and corruption in Nigerian football and indeed Nigerian sports. It will happen very soon, mark my words!