Lord have mercy, I'm the Queen - Nku

"I'm still the queen of the tracks in Nigeria.  I know that I have a record that has not been broken by anybody...not even at the last All-Africa Games in Abuja, in 2003.  Fact was that I was asked out of the continental Games; not that I ran and was beaten.  Even if I had ran and been beaten, my record would still be existing and I tell you, it is still existing, " Nku argued logically.

Mercy, one of Nigeria's pearls of the tracks, was accused of inciting her colleagues to boycott an international athletics championship a few years back and for that, she was barred from participating at the Abuja 2003 All-Africa Games.  But she was quicker than quicksand to defend herself:  "I did not do what they claimed I did.  But nobody believed me because nobody cared to give me a listen.

"I am not a rebel and will never be one...I have my focus and as long as my limbs can still carry me, I'll continue to do my very best in anything  I set my mind at. Since nobody cared to give me a listen, I won't be cajoled into being what I am not destined to be.  I know how I came this long in my chosen sports career and no matter what, I'll continue to allow that motivative factor rule me through and through,"Nku narrated with a prayer for Mercy from the Creator.

And as if to display a measure of her closeness to God, she vowed that she was not involved in the boycott schemes and that she had since left everything in the hands of the Lord, who is the final arbiter.  "If nobody believes me, I know that God does and knows the truth of the matter.  I'm going for the World Athletics Championship in Helsinki, Finland.

"I hope to do my best as always and my next step or plan would be determinant on the out-come of my performance at the Helsinki Meet.  There are a few other championships in Europe, but I have to take my time and look well before leaping.  I promise to do my best in Finland by God's grace," she prayed.