Daegu: Fresh fraud in Nigerian athletics

It is so sad and ironic that officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria are not only prodigal, wasteful but lack the requisite basic management tool to manage such an organisation. It is a fact that the American coach of Adejoke Odumosu was hired and ferried with two other coaches to the world championships in Daegu, South Korea.

Dr.Amos Adamu...better?

Dr Ekeji...fifth columnists at work?

That is the same unguarded manner that the NSC employed three Cubans to tinker our team for the London 2012 Olympics. Whereas, it is true that when these officials bring these coaches, they use it to pilfer tax payers monies, laugh to the bank while our athletes and sports continue to be worsted.
None of the six American or Cuban coaches have the credentials of our Innocent Egbunike in terms of coaching techniques, qualifications and experience.
Which of these coaches can compare to Chief Tony Osheiku? We have coaches who even are so respected and adored by the USA but the corrupt and egoistic self serving interests of our officials is placed ahead of our nation's image and interests.
When my source in the IAAF jolted me with the Daegu revelation, he said, "Jide, do you know what your irresponsible athletics buff did again. They hired three coaches for your team to Daegu. Your presidents sits supervising athletes' training. You guys are the newest jokers in the game."

I was so irked that Nigeria's name is the butt of jokes in the comity of nations. At the end of it all we drew blanks. Yet, see the way Kenyans secured respect with their talents. See Ghana, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Morocco amongst other nations of Africa shone brilliantly. All these African nations put together will never be able to measure with us in terms of population, human, material, facilities, and other allied resources. What they have is organisation and leadership.

Unfortunately, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) do not have sports as one of their priority areas. This is a party that celebrates all the accidental but limited sports successes achieved, many of which are fraudulently acquired with cheating.
As it is, fraud, cheating, corruption, manipulation, gangsterism and all manners of ungodly and inhuman conducts will continue to reign in our sports.
It can be worse in the so called lesser sports. See the quality of confusion the NSC's ill-judgment of simple processes brought into scrabble, the most successful and organised federation in the country.

From this alone, it is easy to understand the bigger quality of confusion in the lesser endowed sports.  Comparatively, one is wont to think and ask, is the Dr. Amos Adamu days not better than the Dr. Patrick Ekeji days?  With Adamu, can all these troubles and pains in our sports have been a part of us? What has gone wrong in the National Sports Confusion (NSC)? Are there fifth columinist working against Ekeji in the NSC oris it that he is yet to settle into realising what are the issues in the Commission? Uhn! I siddon look.

NPL Congress spits fresh fire

*Suspends Rangers Chairman, sets up new electoral committee

The Congress of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has risen from its meeting with far reaching decisions which included setting up three committees including a fresh electoral committee while suspending the Chairman of Rangers International of Enugu, Sam Onyishi, in moves to quell the crisis engulfing her affairs in recent times.

The Congress, the highest decision making body of the NPL, met in the Lamonde Hotel where a two-page communiqué was issued after the meeting signed by Messrs Akin Ankinbobola as Chairman, Alloy Chukwuemeka, Ahemd Yakub, and Kasali Obanoyen as secretary.

The Congress meeting suffered an initial disruption where 20 thugs were alleged to have been brought by Chief Victor Rumson Baribote during which the suspended Rangers FC chairman and Barr. Iyke Igbokwe were said to have physically assaulted Tunji Babalola, the NPL acting Executive Secretary.

A four man panel was set up to investigate the circumstances of the disruption and report back to her in two-weeks. The members included Alhaji Abdulrasaq Owolabi Wopa (Chairman), Bitrus Bewarang, and Barrister Isaac Danlami are to serve as members while Mr. Kasali Obanoyen will serve as secretary.

Congress admitted crisis in the electoral committee under the leadership of Tony Rafua due to the factional recommendations to the NPL, allegations of signature fraud by members, and the resignations of Chief Felix Anyasi-Agwu and Rafua.

A new electoral committee was raised and given one week to commence the processes for the fresh elections. The members are Hon. Sabo Babangida (north west), Barr. Dare Akanbi (north central), Mallam Farouk Yarima (north east), ike Idoko Okpe (south west), Chief Okey Kpalukwu (south-south), Barr. Chike Onyenacho (south east) and Mr. Tunji Babalola (secretary).

The electoral committee has one week to conduct the election in accordance with the relevant guidelines and other approved electoral guidelines in line with the directive of the NFF.

However, a reconciliation committee was also formed to prevail on stakeholders of football in court to withdraw all litigations in the interest of the league. The members are Messrs Abdullahi Danbaba (Chairman), Emeka Iwuagwu, Allo Chukwuemeka, Isa Mailafia, Alex Amudo and Emmanuel Martins.