Super Eagles midfielder John Ogu has called on his national teammates to boycott next month’ s 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sierra Leone in protest against the government ’ s attitude towards its citizens.
The game is billed to hold November 9 in Nigeria with the reverse fixture in Freetown a week later .
There ’ve been ongoing mass protests in the last two weeks in the country , with the youths agitating for police reforms, following extortion and extrajudicial killings by the dreaded Special Anti – Robbery Squad unit of the police force .
Several lives have been lost in the protests , and Ogu , 32 , believes the boycott will “ make a statement ” for the lives that have been lost during the protests across several parts of the country .
Ogu told BBC World Football , “ What is the point in representing the country if this is what the politicians , the people we’ re representing, can do to us?
“ I feel like this is the best thing to do right now until they get back to their senses and listen to us.
“ We want a good government , the police brutality to stop , we want the SARS to stop , we want the killings to stop , we want good laws , we want job opportunities. It ’s just crazy.
“ I believe most of my colleagues understand where I am coming from , I wish we could do this . There are games coming up and if we boycott these games , I’ m sure they will know we ’ve made a statement .
“ I haven’ t really spoken to any of my team -mates about this . They feel for the people here, their loved ones , those that have died. I ’m sure the players are aware . ”
“ I don’ t know ( whether there will be a boycott ) . I don’ t know what is in the heart of the other boys . I’m sure everyone is thinking about this now . We have a match next month. If this thing continues to next month we won ’ t play .
“ How can I go to the national team to represent my country , to represent the government and the people when I think of the lost souls of those who have been killed?”
“ In Lagos , it ’s brutal now ; burning banks , cars , police stations . It ’s dangerous to go out . The country is in shambles .
“I ’ ve been in protests six or seven times . It ’ s always peaceful .”
