By For over a decade, Nigeria’s most decorated indigenous boxer and former World Cruiserweight Champion, Bashiru Ali better known as Bash Ali has been trying to put the country’s name in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest boxer to win a title.
He has continually sought the support of the government. The last time he visited the office of the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, he was brutalized and maltreated by Policemen attached to the minister which led to him being hospitalised.
No that wasn’t all, he was arrested and even charged to court on charges bordering on criminal trespass, intentional insult, inciting public disturbance and refusal to make statement. All these because he wanted to have a meeting with the Minister who had told him to come with his team (according to information passed to Ali by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary).
After waiting several hours at the reception, the Hungarian Ambassador to Nigeria walked in and was immediately ushered in to see the Minister… How pathetic!
Bash Ali has been on this quest for several years even before Anthony Joshua sought for a chance in Nigeria’s Olympic team and was turned down.
Like Joshua, if he decides to go to another country to make his dream come true, Nigeria will be the loudest in being “proud of him”.
Now the Federal Government wants to host Anthony Joshua to a grand reception, the new global boxing bride with claims that he is our own, yet we forget how we rejected him barely a decade ago.
According to Ali, he wants to break the record on home soil for it to benefit Nigeria.
“Sir, George Foreman set the GWR (Guinness World Record) in his country, America. Joe Bugner set the GWR in his country, Australia. Bernard Hopkins set the GWR in his country, America. And now that it is your brother’s turn, it has become an unpardonable crime to want to break the GWR at home so Nigeria can get the benefits. My plight has caught the attention of the International community that one of the most respected newspapers in the world, New York Times had to write about it, ” Bash Ali said in an open letter to Professor Yemi Osinbanjo during his days as Acting President.
With hundreds of Nigerian born athletes excelling abroad, one is left to wonder why any sane government wouldn’t look at taking advantage of a run like what Bash Ali is aiming it. Till date, he remains the most victorious Nigerian boxer having won 66 of his career 80 bouts, 46 of which were KOs. At 61, why dont we simply honour a man while he is alive and has a long life wish he wants to fulfill?
Before his fight, nobody acknowledged Anthony Joshua being a Nigerian son despite repeated revelation by the British boxer that he is proud of his roots but a win over the dreaded Wladimir Klitchko has made us all realised he isn’t just Anthony Joshua but Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua…
What a hypocritical nation!
