As Nigeria clocks 57, we need an alliance of sports and politics

Sports and politics clashed in a very chaotic way last week in the United States of America.

President Donald Trump in his usual style took to Twitter to bash NBA star Steph Curry for suggesting that he and his Golden State Warriors teammates will not be visiting the White House.

As it is traditional in the United States, the president hosts champions of all American sports at the White House.

Since they swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals to win the Championship, Curry has been very vocal about his stand and that of some of his teammates not to make the trip to the White House, to send out a message that they don't support Trump's policies and rhetoric.

Trump didn't find it funny, so he withdrew the invitation.

The president's statement on Twitter drew reactions from some of the biggest sports stars in America.

LeBron James called Trump a 'bum' and later released a statement criticising the president for trying to use sports to divide the country.

Amidst this drama, Trump also had strong words for NFL stars who are kneeling during the National Anthem, calling them 'sons of bitches'.

Colin Kaepernick started kneeling for during National Anthem before games at the last NFL season to protest the widespread killing of unarmed black men. An act that has cost him his job.

As it is with America, Nigeria has her own problems, issues way more weightier than that of the Americans.

Corruption, unemployment, poverty, ineffective governance, injustice especially to the lower class etc.

Amidst these issues, the ordinary Nigerians are left on their own to stage ineffective protests on the streets and social media platforms.

We have very few voices challenging Nigeria's ruling clash. Voices who often times are bought by the ruling class, leaving the lower class again on their own.

This is where sports and politics need to meet in Nigeria. The two worlds have to meet at a point where some of our sporting heroes can speak up for the people.

Nigerians are sports driven people; a visit to the viewing centre near you and you'd see ordinary citizens having the time of their lives, lost in the world of sports.

You see how football brings the country together,  how people of different tribes, religions and beliefs come together for a cause.

It's about time those who are on the forefront of this huge cause called sports, speak out for the people who worship and follow them.

Nigerian sports stars have ignored and left the fate of their fans in the hands of merciless leaders. It's time they start speaking out.

In the past, some sporting figures have been seen meddling in politics but it came from a point of sycophancy. No need to start mentioning names.

Involving in politics does not mean being partisan, it's about giving a voice to the basic issues that affect the people who follow you and that's what Nigerian sports stars need to start doing.

The voices of James, Curry have added much momentum to the issues of race in America. That's what huge voices bring to a cause.

Imagine some of our biggest sports stars adding their voices to talk about the poor state of IDP camps, incessant and unnecessary spending by our lawmakers, corruption in government etc.

It's been 241 years since America got their independence, although they still have some complex issues to deal with especially when it comes to race, it's still a very stable entity.

Nigeria is just just 57-year-old.

If their sports stars can care that much, ours have no excuse.