For acclaimed entertainment and media personality, Jide Alabi, having a lot of money isn’t such a big deal as it is to most people.
Alabi, however, says he is most passionate about the three basic things he does: singing, acting and broadcasting.
“Let me just put it simply. I love what I do. As long as it makes me happy, I go for it. I started with music, went into acting, and I’m also a professional broadcaster. I love what I do. It makes me happy, I go for it. That’s my philosophy,” he says.
In spite of the fact that he is not getting as much remuneration as celebrities abroad having the same status, he still believes that money doesn’t matter to him, adding that the youths should stop being misled by the love of money.
“Well, if I’m not making money, sometimes it’s not about money. The reason we’re having so many problems in the world today is because all we’re putting into the heads of the young ones is money. As long as I’m happy doing what I’m doing, the joy and happiness of doing what I do will bring what will make me satisfied. Money, for me, may not be what money means to you. Money to you may mean Lamborghini, you know, having private jet. No! Money for me is being happy, being comfortable. And I’m happy, I’m comfortable, to God be the glory,” he says.
Alabi, who is a top sports broadcaster with Silverbird TV and Rhythm FM, is also very versed in sport reporting. He warns there’s no future for Nigerian football unless the country gets its act together.
As long as I’m happy doing what I’m doing, the joy and happiness of doing what I do will bring what will make me satisfied. Money, for me, may not be what money means to you. Money to you may mean Lamborghini, you know, having private jet. No! Money for me is being happy, being comfortable
Giving his candid view about Nigerian football, he says, “I think it has a long, long way to go. And I also believe that under the present circumstance, as much as efforts are being geared towards getting the best out of the Nigerian league, and for as long as the government is still there, owning and managing club sides, we’re not going anywhere.
“We’ve seen that when it comes to government, people believe that it’s free money and they mess a whole lot of things up. Honestly, I’m one of those people who believe we can float another league entirely from what we’ve right now that will not allow any government to own any club there, but just businesses and companies owning the clubs that will be run professionally just like the English Premier League and let’s do football business.
“For as long as we don’t see it as business, clubs will continue to owe players, continue to exploit players and a whole lot of things will not work right. It’s always very painful when you hear that a state government is owing a club and you expect the boys to be playing and to win. They (governments) have too much influence. They want to choose the coach and tell the coaches which players to play. Those things are not good for football. You are not serious yet and until you’re ready, you’re not ready.”
And on Gernot Rohr who has qualified Nigeria for the World Cup this year, and who started his Nigeria coach spell by winning three matches consecutively then lost his fourth match shockingly to South Africa, giving him the ignominious tag of the coach of a Super Eagles side that would be the first ever to lose to South Africa, thereby raising doubts as to the substantial future of the Super Eagles under his guidance, he pleaded for time and support for him.
Speaking on the performance of Gernot Rohr, the coach of the Super Eagles, Alabi says, “Well, as disappointed as I was that we finally lost to South Africa, I’m not going to use one match to judge a coach. No, that’s not going to happen. When he was winning, we were all happy about it. I’m one of those people that love to watch for a while. I’ll not just want to condemn the man outright. If you give him everything he needs, give him the environment he needs and the players, he will achieve.
“We cannot expect ourselves to beat South Africa forever. They are not sleeping. They’re developing their league everyday, developing their football. I was in South Africa in 2010 and I saw what they’re putting into football development. We also are trying, it’s just that we are slower than the snail. So, the loss only woke up our team. Let’s give the man a chance. We said take us to the World Cup and he’s done that. So, let’s wait and see.”
Asked how he could assist to move Nigerian football forward, Alabi says, “I’m making a good move about it. I’ve proffered the solution on my programme. I’ll continue to talk about it, continue to propagate it and you don’t stop until you see that objectives are achieved. I’m talking to other people as well. Government is using football as a political tool and we must let them realise football is business, that they cannot run clubs. So, they should sell their clubs to private investors or lease them out to people that will manage them properly. And if we don’t do that, oh men, oh men!
“And then the country itself, the roads are so bad. Hardly will you see teams travelling in one month without one accident or the other. They can’t afford to fly and so many things are just not together. But as I always say, if Nigeria gets it right, we will get football right as well.”
