Tunde Onakoya, a Nigerian chess player and coach, who holds the Guinness World Record for the longest marathon chess game, is in the eye of the storm. He’s quickly finding out that Nigerians can show love and dish out hate in the same proportion once you step out of the invisible and imaginary moral and socio-political ring they mentally put you in.
Onakoya is the founder and convener of Chess in Slums Africa (CISA), a non-profit organization dedicated to uplifting children from underserved communities through the strategic use of chess, STEM education, and socio-emotional development.
Through CISA, Onakoya has given hope to the hopeless and given poor and economically disadvantaged kids from poverty-stricken homes a shot at a good life and changed the trajectory of their lives, pulling them out of the cauldron of strife and hardship and placing them firmly on the pedestal of economic prosperity and meaningful existence. But all these have now been overshadowed by the controversy that his meeting with President Bola Tinubu has engendered.
Genesis of the furore
Before meeting Tinubu, Tunde had met with other wealthy and influential Nigerians following his announcement to sell “50 exclusive chess sets” that he designed “using Adire patterns, and I’m selling each one for 1 million naira(600 dollars).”
He added “ If you buy a set, I’d personally deliver it to you + a free chess lesson/game. I will put half the profit into a fund for building a free school in Nigeria.”
Tunde met with influential Nigerians to sell exclusive chessboard sets
Meeting Davido: Davido was the first person to show interest in Tunde’s sales pitch. He ordered five chessboards
https://x.com/Tunde_OD/status/1921626372474089655?t=jXSRNOnI6g0NtRtYMc4Owg&s=19
Meeting with Atiku: Tunde also met with Atiku to deliver one of the exclusive chess boards to him
https://x.com/Tunde_OD/status/1927085413648187460?t=ucWx8PQCggTQMT1PvsfteA&s=19
Encounter with Tinubu: The meeting that incurred the wrath of many
Tunde’s meeting with Davido and Atiku was met with positive reactions and satisfying feedback from Nigerians on social media, but his meeting with Tinubu was greeted with scathing think pieces, castigation and condemnation. However, some people did not share the sentiment of those who chastised and vilified Tunde for meeting with Tinubu. They argued that it would be foolhardy for Tunde to reject the invitation of the president and that no matter your reservation about Tinubu the office of the presidency has to be respected.
“Saviour of the slum meets the Slum maker,” an X user retorted
https://x.com/AkinmolayanV/status/1932407368207253605?t=V83l-gf1kds1_FZ8Mz2SEw&s=19
“The man who thinks he is saving children from the Slum and the man who created the Slum exchanging gift 😂…
“If dem explain Nigeria to you, you will remove your cap and shout Yeparipa!!!” Chichi said
https://x.com/_Ekezie/status/1932515627484274831?t=dLGkkUsKdYJdX9lU8-jEBQ&s=19
“You’re cancelled” by cowards and hypocrites who never took action whatsoever to “fix” what someone else is trying to fix.
“A president of a nation invited him, and you expected him to say “NO, baba mi, Twitter folks will cancel me”. Una no Dey even think ?
“See the hypocrisy sha” Bola Banjo said
https://x.com/bolaabanjo/status/1932428427841146885?t=dLGkkUsKdYJdX9lU8-jEBQ&s=19
“Embarks on a project to get kids out of the slumps, then goes ahead to chill with the one sending kids to the slumps👉🏽👈🏽” Big Jay quipped
https://x.com/Iam_Jayphlow/status/1932353912461226251?t=STe6BHa16RG-JhHFSGZ3eg&s=19
“He is virtually the main reason why those kids live under the bridge in Lagos.
He has been the Governor and de facto governor of Lagos for over 25 years and has only made more people poorer.
Today he is currently destroying the country and making more Nigerians poor, maybe that is what you want so you can continue to thrive.🤷🏿♂️
Like I say, many Nigerians are benefiting from bad governance, because if the government did their jobs in the first place, their daily hustle would go extinct.
This is why I say I don’t look up to NOBODY but God.
There is no Honor visiting a Thief dressed in Royal Robe.” Emir Saddam said
https://x.com/EmirSirdam/status/1932413813271261291?t=E4M1qpqKAG6nNiv6yaN4qw&s=19
However, some X users cut Tunde some slack, showed some understanding and defended his action
” His mission is to secure a better future for Nigerian kids through chess and he’ll do that while getting every possible help he needs. What logic will make him turn down meeting the president to make demands for the kids? It’s his right, it’s the kid’s right and he must take it” Aláyọ̀ said
https://x.com/durotimi_Omo/status/1932417496943866225?t=hronu6v0MoBXfFeYQY9DLQ&s=19
“Tunde Onakoya is an advocate, not an activist. His work has always been about giving underprivileged kids a fighting chance through chess, not politics.
Honouring the president’s invitation doesn’t mean endorsement. He’s playing the long game, and the kids remain his priority.” Fola opined
https://x.com/coffee_puccino/status/1932494433041240273?t=cm59xTOWlT4iM0DdeREeJw&s=19
“I don’t see anything wrong with Tunde honouring the invitation of The President of Nigeria (regardless of who’s occupying the office).
His accomplishments deserve national recognition especially when you consider those that have been bestowed with national honours. My only issue” Kenneth said
https://x.com/Lekzikon/status/1932406285452116294?t=tfY2VBUeih4HRQopGsIWFw&s=19
“Some of you here are not being fair to Tunde. Regardless of your political slant, the President is the President. Tunde runs a charity. And he’s called to see him, he will honor the request.
Pls don’t smear Tunde. He’s one of the few uplifting people we all can be proud of,” Dr Aloy chife stated
https://x.com/ChifeDr/status/1932409317547749602?t=9V2Ib8JVER2Kvp6IpnKVMg&s=19