Sports
“How successful people are victimized in Africa” — Mikel Obi
Former Super Eagles icon John Mikel Obi candidly addressed the pervasive issue of familial entitlement and threats stemming from financial success for affluent individuals in Africa during a conversation with former footballer Rio Ferdinand.
In a revealing chat, Mikel Obi disclosed the distressing reality of family members exhibiting a sense of entitlement once one achieves financial success, often resorting to greed and coercion for continued financial support.
Highlighting the disheartening experiences, Mikel expressed the alarming situation where family members, driven by greed, resort to threatening tactics, even considering tarnishing one’s reputation in the media if financial assistance isn’t continuously extended.
Drawing from his personal encounters, Mikel shared,
“You get threatened by your own blood. Your own brothers and sisters.”
The football star painted a vivid picture of the cultural dynamics prevalent in Africa, emphasizing that success often brings unwarranted expectations from extended family members, distant relatives, and even siblings seeking financial aid or benefits.
Mikel Obi elaborated on the situation, stating,
“When you come from Africa, when you make money, it’s not your money. You have all these relatives, cousins, whatever you call it.”
He illuminated a common scenario where family members marry into affluent families solely for financial stability, creating a perpetual cycle of dependency.
Mikel Obi also highlighted the burden placed on successful individuals, feeling obligated to support extended family members, even as they expand their families with numerous children.
The Nigerian footballer stressed the need for resilience and the difficulty in establishing boundaries, expressing the necessity to assertively set limits despite the emotional and manipulative pressures exerted by family members.
He recounted instances where threats of going to the press were used as leverage to extract financial assistance, a distressing revelation that shocked the audience.
