A STORYTELLER SPECIAL: Can President Tinubu Ban Sports Betting in Naija
Recently, unofficial and unpaid adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Mr Reno Omokri, urged him to ban sports betting in Nigeria as it is a source of crime among our youth. What rubbish? Who send Reno message? When did he become a crime fighter? Does he know anything about how street people motivate and keep themselves happy without using drugs? He resides in America and wants to tell people what they should so with their money. Imagine that. By the way, sports betting is loosely called Baba Ijebu by the masses. You need a crash course to understand the full dimensions of sports betting. It is wide.
He posted some statistics that the industry generates about $1 billion daily. Has he bothered to ask how much the state Governments of Nigeria generate from sports betting monthly? It is the most regulated sector in Nigeria. Government People just put their eyes into the Baba Ijebu business to lick off the cream.
Sports Betting centres are now for entertainment. Guys go there to socialize and talk politics and sports. Take their mind off their problems and the confusion called Nigeria. People spend hours there to be among people and in some level of comfort. Around them are also food and drinks sellers. They all good hand in hand. With an opportunity to charge their phones. In these days of N650 per litre of fuel, Sports Betting shops run generator for 14 hours non stop. That gives business to fuel stations, generator sellers and repairers.
Yeye dey smell.
Let someone help me tell Reno that for poor Nigerians, Baba Ijebu is their only hope for redemption from poverty. They believe in baba Ijebu more than their pastor or prayer. Everything sports and stands with baba Ijebu.
Baba Ijebu is part of their daily life. When artisans budget money for daily expenses, baba Ijebu is listed on top.
Some will not eat until they have played. It’s an elixir. They know that someday they will win and they do win small small amounts that keep bringing them back.
School teachers are also part of it. They play. On the way to school, they will drop money and their numbers and will call their Book maker to find out if they won. Baba Ijebu is another stream of income. I have friends in London and America who play the lottery religiously. How can I judge them for looking for millions of dollars in retirement money.
Home or office service is rampant. The boys who work in betting shops are always busy running between different homes to service their older clients who can not afford to be seen in these shops. Are they criminals, they are just trying to make a do of things so let Reno not put his mouth in what he does not know about.
Keke Marwa and Okada riders all play. Small drops of water make a mighty ocean. Almost all the Marwa people play. When carrying passengers past their betting shop, they will stop over briefly, with apologies to passengers to drop money and numbers. People who indulge in Baba Ijebu are very time conscious. No African time. The winning numbers you have for 12 noon, will not be the same at 5;00pm. It’s always a race against time.
Married women are also part of it. When they collect money for feeding from their husbands daily, they squeeze out something to play Baba Ijebu. It’s a must. They can afford to stay hungry.
Women who have shops usually use their first sales for the day to play. Everybody is hoping for a windfall someday. It is that good.
Young men with flashy cars also play. Yahoo boys also play. They send money to the shop owners with their set of numbers. And there are also those who play on their phones. It’s a serious something as they say in Port Harcourt.
In some homes mother and father play. Sometimes they discuss it , others do it secretly. They all want extra money. Naija is tough. Baba Ijebu will help.
The news of baba Ijebu big winnings makes a lot of people happy; they hope and pray it will be their turn soon. They share the stories with friends, embellish the amount and how much was given out to friends by the winner.
Please Reno, leave Baba Ijebu pipu alone, face the politicians who are stealing billions daily, face the ministers and Governors and senators and the bankers who use pen to steal billions and trillions. Let him face those stealing our crude oil daily. Let him focus on those who smuggle in guns through our borders. People who produce fake drugs and packed foods. The enemies of state abound. Baba Ijebu is not part of them. Sports betting practitioners pay tax, employ people and add value to the nation. Sports betting did not start in Nigeria. It is big business all over the world.
Baba Ijebu is not a crime. They are just trying their luck. I kuku trust Tinubu, he will just laugh at what Reno is saying, ‘stupid boy he will say, what’s his business with sports betting.’
Banning sports betting will cause an uproar of unimaginable proportions; the revolt will be plenty from the youth, artisans, women and even retired people.
Most old retirees, do you know they play Baba Ijebu, they have mapped out the money sent to them for feeding by their children. They don’t play that 100 naira or 200 naira per hour or per day. It keeps them going.
Baba Ijebu is size by size. You can play as low as N50 or N100. You can also play every hour. There are also those who play as much as 10,000 to 20,000 per day. The more you play, the more you can win. Some players are low risk takers. Their heart can’t take too much pressure. No wahala. Nobody forces anyone.
When people lose, they cry silently. But when they win the celebration and jubilation is massive. They start from the Baba Ijebu shop, buy drinks for the boys. Before the winner leaves, word goes ahead of him. People are waiting for him at home. He will buy another round of drinks and maybe food. Area people with problems will come; school fees, health issues and shop rent. He will sort them out. Much later his core pals will come privately. Be will settle them heavily. These are the guys who carried him through lean times. He won’t forget them when their is money.
People play Baba Ijebu solely, but the money is never spent alone. In Naija we are family. We are our neighbors keeper.
Every winner is an overnight sensation. The legend grows, if they win more than once, they become an oracle. People consult them for strategy and numbers.
People bet on every sport; soccer, basketball, hockey, horse racing…everything. oyinbo people have put all of them online round the clock. These days most of your friends you see ‘ Pressing Phone always, are not on social media. They are working the numbers…betting. This has gone beyond Pools betting of old. Then results were announced on Saturdays and late matches on Sundays. Sports betting of today is hourly. It is scientific.
Sports Betting is a fraternity. Once you meet a guy in a betting shop, he becomes your friend or a closer friend if you knew him before. You can always call to ask if he won yesterday or has new numbers. People don’t discuss their betting habits with anyone. They don’t Invite people to join. If you know, you know. That way you won’t blame anybody when you lose. Everybody carries his cross.
Generation of winning numbers is another matter. Some see numbers in their dreams. Some have a way of generating winner numbers. Some hear numbers from spirit beings. People are always looking out for numbers. A set of numbers on a moving truck might be heaven sent. They hot it down. Numbers written on a piece of paper or book might be divine. A child repeating a set of figures might be a winner, write down the numbers for the next stake. Players never take anything that has to do with numbers for granted. Baba ijebu is a game of numbers.
I am told the famous prophet, Primate Ayodele predicted some matches correctly last year and people made a killing. They are waiting for him to invest heavily. But he has warned people against using his predictions for gambling. That is his own. People will bet anyday he makes another match prediction, they are reliable. People won’t mind off loading valuable assets to bet when he makes a match prediction next time. His accuracy is proven.
Let’s not kid ourselves, Naija is tough. Sports betting is now a low risk investment scheme for many. Naija is tough, people need money. This to them is not MMM or money
doubling, it’s a game of chance.
You never know, Lady Luck might shine on you any hour.
Tell Reno Omokri to mind his matter. No be everything person dey put mouth inside.
By
; Al Humphrey Onyanabo ( The Story Teller)
Tel; +2348109975621
Email Nigeria360online@gmail.com