Nigeria: A Nation Where Heroes Passed Away Hopelessly in Poverty – Bash Ali WBC

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

It was originally titled “Mike Tyson, Bash Ali: Poverty and passing way of heroes hopelessly in. Nigeria”, from the source.

Undoubtedly, differences exist with societies that looks after its own Heroes especially between the US Mike Tyson and Nigeria’s Bash Ali, and the rest of them, in line with the perspectives of Nigerian’s foremost World Boxing Champion (WBC), Bashiru Ali, widely known as Bash Ali.

“Each time, our true heroes
helplessly pass on as a result of poverty and or curable health challenges, I weep profusely. Tears well up my eyes when I remember Jerry Okorodudu, Rashidi Yekini, Peter Fregene, Sebastian Brodericks, Mike Onyemachara, Emmanuel Ebiede and Thompson Oliha among others who served Nigeria but died as a result of avoidable situations”, he stated with grieves.

Bash Ali also revealed that *Mike Tyson (58), last fight that bailed him out of poverty was with $20 million dollars”.

Bash Ali, Pegasus Reporters, Lagos, in it November 24, 2024, edition, stated that “Mike Tyson went very broke after quitting boxing 19 years ago. Today, his story has changed because his compatriots decided to be agents of positive change. He admitted his youthful errors, which led to the mismanagement of his resources, which landed him near penury”.

The statement continuous that “However, his country, the sporting fraternity, and boxing stakeholders who felt he had given so much to the sport yet made America proud with his talent rallied around him. The Iroko must not fall.

“They fixed a bout with a former blogger, Paul Jake, thus creating an avenue for the legendary Iron Mike to smile home with a whopping $20m. It was an inconsequential fight that had many positive consequences for Tyson.”, it stated.

“Mike Tyson, according to Champion Ali “It was deliberately done to help him rebuild his life or, better yet, to help him bounce back as a “retirement benefit” even as he ages.

“No one cared about his race or the colour of his skin. No one bother to ask, which or what religion he practices. No one asked, whose son he was. No one queried him on what he did with the millions he made in boxing while he was champ. No one reminded him of how reckless and lavish he was with money during his youthful era.

“It wasn’t about East, West, North or South. It was about giving life a meaning. It was about giving someone a shoulder to lean on. It was about being one’s brother’s keeper.

“No one recalled how he gambled, went in and out of nightclubs, frolicked with women and lived a larger-than-life lifestyle which later crashed. All they wanted was for Tyson to age gracefully. All they wanted was to leave a legacy of ensuring the champ remains a champ.

“He was simply helped. He was assisted. He was supported. He was lifted. He was revived. He was given hope again. He was brought back to life.

“That’s what life is all about. Don’t condemn others. Don’t pass the blames. Don’t judge. Don’t mock…just help if you can and when necessary”, it emphasized.

Drawing from these ugly experience *Nigeria’s Bash Ali’ expressed lamentation that “Each time, our true heroes helplessly pass on as a result of poverty and or curable health challenges, I weep profusely.
“Tears well up my eyes when I remember Jerry Okorodudu, Rashidi Yekini, Peter Fregene, Sebastian Brodericks, Mike Onyemachara, Emmanuel Ebiede and Thompson Oliha among others who served Nigeria but died as a result of avoidable situations.

“A more recent example is the Nigerian icon, the undefeated World Cruiserweight champion, Bash Ali. At over sixty and still sparring in the gym, he has for many years asked the nation to sponsor a fight to enable him to prove that Nigeria has some of the best athletes in the world despite his age.

“Successive governments since Obasanjo have ignored his call. As usual, he was invited to the US but he declined the invitation by sports-loving enthusiasts because Nigeria can earn over a billion dollars if it’s done here at home, a push that has seen Bash Ali in media bouts with sports ministers.

“Bash Ali with President Bola, A, Tinubu during the latter’s 71st birthday celebration: Will the ringside bell-toll allow Bash to mount the ring with this president”, he asked.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria has always shown interest in hosting this historic event in Nigeria and on 3 occasions, November 9, 2006, January 7, 2014 and May 21, 2019, inaugurated the Bash Ali Boxing Project Local Organizing Committee with the office of the chief of staff of the President representing the Presidency, the office of the senate president and the office of the Speaker both representing the legislative while the private sector will fund the historic event and the FGN through the ministry of sports will provide an enabling environment for a successful show.

“The FGN is not putting up a KOBO. Despite 3 inaugurations and the representatives of the FGN in the local organizing Committee, the historic event is yet to see the light of day because of CORRUPTION. Now, that President Tinubu has come on board with the renewed hope agenda, Nigeria and the world are looking forward to Bash Ali rewriting Boxing History in Nigeria and earning a place in the Guinness World Record Book as the oldest boxer to ever defend and fight for a world Boxing Championship Fight. The world is watching.

This article was shared with our publication through Whatsapp form, with our Kaduna correspondent adding a few edits additions and subtractions”, he stated.

He continue that “November 27, 2024 at 5:08 am he appealed to the present government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to invest in sports development and infrastructure, to enabled Nigeria Sport Icons, to have a better life and motivated to uplift the youth who will in turn mentor upcoming generations.

“For a nation that forgets its heroes is destined to lose its glory. Bash Ali’s decades-long career, marked by resilience and dedication, has brought pride to Nigerian sports. Despite his efforts to set a Guinness World Record and inspire younger athletes, limited government support has hindered his dreams”, he remarked.

He added that “The federal government of Nigeria has always shown interest in hosting this historic event in Nigeria and on 3 occasions, November 9, 2006, January 7, 2014 and on May 21, 2019, inaugurated the Bash Ali Boxing Project Local Organizing Committee with the office of the chief of staff of the President representing the Presidency.

“The office of the senate president and the office of the Speaker both representing the legislative while the private sector will fund the historic event and the FGN through the ministry of sports will provide an enabling environment for a successful show. The FGN is not putting up a Kobo.

“Despite 3 inaugurations and the representatives of the FGN in the local organizing Committee, the historic event is yet to see the light of the day because of corruption. Now, that President Tinubu has come on board with the renewed hope agenda, Nigeria and the world are looking forward to Bash Ali to rewrite Boxing History in Nigeria and earn a place in the Guinness World Record Book as the oldest boxer to ever defend and fight for a world Boxing Championship Fight. The world is watching. thanks”, he sympathetically stated.