Sincerely, I wouldn't have bothered to respond to Patrick Omorodion
vituperation but for the sake of educating this group of well respected
journalists against the blatant falsehood or half truths being reeled
out by Patrick.
First, at almost 43 with a wife and 3
children and having graduated from the University 19 years ago, would
Patrick call me a small boy? How old is the British PM, Deputy PM,
Donald Duke when he was Gov et al.
Second, in his imagination
Patrick said I called 13 years ago and requested ----. To say the
least, I never called and if I needed anything printed in Vanguard I
know who to meet.
Every discerning mind knows that Patrick is
an unrepentant hater of Delta State, even though he claims otherwise.
So his journalistic assessment or views on Delta State are always
biased.
How can he opine that AYAC adjudged to be very
successful both in Organisation and discovering of future athletes for
Nigeria was put together for selfish reasons. What a shame. 7 of the 12
gold medals won where athletes that our Technical Directorate discovered
in our periodic talent hunt programs. The two greatest teenage
sensations right now in Nigeria, Divine Oduduru and Ese Brume are
products of our youth programs. I will truly appreciate if I can invite
this group of journalists to Delta State to see first hand our various
programs and interact with the locals and they will find out why Delta
State will always finish decently in any organized tournament.
As
Chairman of Delta FA, it is on record that we run the best State FA in
Nigeria. All our programs are 100% private sector driven, having the
longest sponsorship deal in the Country spanning 14 years. Quality
capacity building programs for Coaches and Referees etc. The high point
of our achievement will be the Commissioning of our ultra modern
Football secretariat christened Patrick Okpomo Football House in August .
The $1m project is 100% private sector driven. My 'big brother' Patrick
Omorodion will be my special guest.
What has my consanguinity
with Dr Uduaghan has to do with my being in Govt. what is wrong with
that. Am I not qualified having made a 2nd class upper, .2 shy of 1st
class from the highly revered UNIBEN. Patrick should know that I went
through the ranks from 1999 till date. From 2nd Vice Chairman, 1st Vice
Chairman, Chairman of the Delta FA, served also as SSA to Gov Ibori on
Foreign Relations and now as Executive Chairman, DSSC. Meanwhile by His
Grace, we have been running a very successful Marine and Offshore
business for over 10 years and so the likes of Patrick should think
otherwise if he feels my life is dependent on Govt.
On the
Sunday MBA issue. I don't see anything wrong if money is the issue
because all clubs like private businesses are out to make money or take
advantage of situations as they unfold. Warri Wolves admittedly stopped
his salary when he reported to Rangers camp in Oct without recourse to
civility or approval from the club. Each club has its own internal
disciplinary mechanism. Today Wolves have been vindicated.
I
never one day ran to Fanny Amu for anything ( he is around and can
testify to that). We are friends and I will always be proud of our
friendship. Unknown to Patrick, it was my father that nurtured,sponsored
and mentored Patrick Okpomo from childhood to adulthood. Growing up, I
never knew he was not a Pinnick so if I ran to him for anything, what
was wrong with that,anything wrong in running to your elder brother.
Till date, I maintain a very warm,close and robust relationship with his
immediate family.
If Patrick Omorodion is objective as he
claims, why doesn't he see anything wrong in Patrick Ikeji, a man that
his exit from office was celebrated in the highest heavens. A man that
even his close friend and associate Adokiye Amasiemeka
openly acknowledged not only his inadequacies but an abysmal failure in
Sports Governance. We know who the paymasters are.Patrick will be
flabbergasted to learn about the depth of what we know. Stop throwing
stones.
Today, even in my absence, the festival has been
thrown open, again we have been vindicated and let's wait and see the
advantage of an open festival.
Why won't they shout me down? Ikeji was in charge and the entire script was written by him.
My
dear brothers, honestly it is not my style to do a piece like this. It
might sound offensive to some of you who might perceive it differently
but for the sake of posterity et al I decided to damn the consequence.
As a Christain I have forgiven him and I expect him also to forgive me. We can be friends again.
Cheers
Amaju
Melvin
Pinnick
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