Nigerian gov’t denounces Napoli’s ‘maltreatment’ of Victor Osimhen over viral TitTok videos mocking the player

The minister of foreign affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has said Nigerian sportsmen and women in the diaspora must be treated with respect.

The Minister made the assertion while reacting to the viral TitTok videos from Napoli mocking Osimhen for missing a penalty kick in a football match between the club and Bologna in Serie A last week.

Tuggar, however, said the matter falls under the 4Ds Strategy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also known as the Tinubu Doctrine, mainstreaming Democracy, Development, Diaspora, and Demography as part of its outward-looking objectives.

Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy to the minister, Alkasim Abdulkadir, said the diaspora component of the strategy considers the life and dignity of every Nigerian abroad sacrosanct and deserving of respect and dignity in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“When we go about our duties, we should always remember Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.

“They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

“By the foregoing, Napoli did not act in the spirit of brotherhood by the mocking of her star player Victor Osimhen who was instrumental to the team winning the Serie A Championship last season,” the statement read in parts.

The minister said the Nigerian government shall continue to monitor happenings not only in Napoli but around the world on how her sportsmen and women are treated and all other citizens abroastard and it will not hesitate to redress such mistreatments.

Despite the backlash, Napoli have refused to apologise to Victor Osimnhen.

In a club statement, the club said if Victor perceived any offence towards him, this was not what the club intended.’

The club said:  said: ‘Calcio Napoli, wishing to avoid any exploitation of the issue, point out that we never wanted to offend or mock Victor Osimhen, who is a treasure of this club.’

The club also mentioned how they had rejected several transfer offers for the forward during the summer window.

‘As proof of that, during the summer training retreat, the Club firmly rebuffed every offer that was received for the striker’s transfer abroad.

 

‘Social media, in particular, TikTok, has always used an expressive form of language with a light heart and creativity, without wanting to, as in the case with Osimhen as the protagonist, have any intention of insult or derision.

‘In any case, if Victor perceived any offence towards him, this was not what the club intended.’