Sports is our only savior in an age that brings us ‘down’ to our knees

Imagine our world of sports is this sweet

One had to ask oneself: do our rulers have human feelings? Torpor?
What is torpor? Torpor denotes sheer, barbaric unconcern. I recall the story of a professor minister who stole my ideas of the NATIONAL ATHLETES INSURANCE SCHEME shortly after Sani Lulu’s NFF stole our ideas, balkanised it and sold one quarter to Afribank Plc for N1bn in four years whereas, we designed to deliver N2.8bn in one quarter. When I screamed blue murder against the thieving minister, he said in what was to be a reconciliatory meeting: “you are ruining Nigeria's image".

Tell them please, our sports administrators, yes, it is THEY who, with their animalistic insensitivity, are ruining Nigeria's image. (lease forgive my extreme anger and choice of words here). If the conditions didn't exist, no one would be able to expose them. Of all the reports I have published anywhere, are there elements of truth in them? Which of the facts I have published are farces?

Who will disinfect Nigerian sports like this?

Now, if you are not a sports lover, these will not mean much to you. But
for those who are in the know, this is a most disturbing outcome of our sports.
I have said this before and will no doubt say it again: sport, at its
best, engages the whole of our personality. We imagine our bodies to
be in a state that we know they can never be in! We allow our
imaginations to fly, we throw all our pains away while the game lasts, even as we indulge in one of the most indolent
activities in our lives – sitting on a sofa and watching television,
with a beer or other drink close at hand, and food also easily
available beyond just the taker. Here, we share personal wealth freely with those who have not.

Deep down our sub-conscious, every national sports failure is good money to some pockets somewhere. The Nigerian fan groans, moans, can’t eat or sleep, nurses headaches and sometimes slumps and dies but the administrators smiles to his banks.

Why can’t we do things right? Why can’t we do things the way it works in other climes? We are not the only ones who are unable to achieve athletic or sporting successes after some systemic slump.

Can there be anything, then, that is as full of the human tragedy and
the human triumph rolled into one – as sport? The answer is yours to
reveal.

This is where we are. I have been inundated with counter allegations that all the tissues of investigations I have pieced together in the report of yesterday are all bundles of lies. One threat: WE SHALL SUE YOU OUT OF EXISTENCE.

Suing a reporter is no big deal. The truth remains what it is. I am waiting to be sued. 90% of the materials in that investigation remains publications from the officials of the AFN! I have only been watchful and kept records which I compared.

Review of the Athletics Fraud of Nigeria (AFN) in four years

*Why Sports federation guideline is skewed to favour anointed candidates

With the release of the election guidelines by the National Sports Commission (NSC), some qualification issues were noted specially designed to suit some of the outgoing Presidents of the failed Sports Federations to enjoy a smooth return to office. As a result, I have decided to do an expose of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to show how and why the guideline is ‘trickish’, slippery and against our national interest.

Double budgetary overhead: AFN had continually perpetrated fraud against the Federal Government of Nigeria for receiving monies from NSC for all World Championships for Youth, Junior and Senior level competitions as well as salary for its Secretary General whereas, the International Amateur Athletics Association (IAAF) paid for those engagements.

The IAAF bears the burden of maintaining a Secretary General in all her member federations including Nigeria. Why does the NSC also pays the same individual another salary? This trend has been on for decades. (See: http://www.iaaf.org/mm/Document/imported/9572.pdf)

IAAF provides the AFN funding to international competition it organises every year. Those funds covered each athlete’s preparation, travel and accommodation to every competition for every level of athlete (youth, junior and senior) in any country.

AFN simultaneously collected the same amount from NSC for purposes other than intended. Over the past four years the AFN received over N50Million from the NSC for competitions fully sponsored by the IAAF.

Since AFN is an affiliate of IAAF, that organization directly funds its secretarial needs annually (every federation) to the tune of $10,000 per year. This means in the last four years, she got $40,000.

The NSC also paid salaries and allowances to the Secretary General, a civil servant, appointed in that capacity.

The Ghanaian Athletics Secretary General recently faced criminal charges and prosecution, she was, in addition, removed from office for not disclosing such funds.

CROSS RIVERS STATE GOVERNMENT: The Cross Rivers State government sponsors the national Athletics trials. The Cross Rivers State (CRS) government signed a contract to fund the trials for N250 Million amounting to N50million per year. Meanwhile, the state government provides other facilities such as accommodation and stadium.

Furthermore, Obudu marathon is also being funded by the Cross River State government with direct affiliation fees to the AFN reportedly in excess of N11million.

OGUN STATE GOVERNMENT: The Ogun State government gave the AFN N7million in 2010 as hosting rights. This information is based on news reports originating from the AFN which has not been denied since the publications went to town meaning it remains the whole truth.

Samsung: AFN published statements in newspapers indicated that it received contractual funding of N12.6million (N4.2million per year) from this company.

SINOPEC (Oil Co.): AFN announced to the media that she received N75million from this oil company for the past three years. (See AFN Signs N25 Million Sponsorship Deal With SINOPEC, Daily Champion 17 June 2011).

MOBIL: We have been made to understand and believe the exact amount spent by this company is a mystery. The published report by Mobil noted that it funded AFN for N26million in 2009.

DAAR COMMUNICATION PLC: This company sponsored the Ladi Lawal Championship in 2009 for an estimated N10million. Ladi Lawal was the former Group Managing Director of the big media organization.

Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited: How much this company sponsored some of the AFN Golden leagues is kept a secret. Newspaper publications on their activities with the AFN never had or bore any figure. The final assumption is that the AFN will not have packaged the championships in their name for free.

Desicon Limited: The situation in respect to Saipem applies here too. This company sponsored some of the AFN Golden league series.

PASTOR OLUKOYA: Unconfirmed figures gotten showed that the AFN received about N20million for over two years for this championship.

NKOYO IBORI: The actual figure received for 2009 and 2010 edition for the junior athletics competition is only good for speculation.

GLO MARATHON: The 2009 edition was funded by Globacom to the tune of N11million which was paid into AFN’s bank accounts.

ATHLETES REGISTRATION AND AFFILIATION FEES: How much was collected from this fat account remains a conjecture. If to be conservatively low and be very outwardly bland, we assume that the AFN may have collected in four years about N12Million in affiliation and athletes registration fees.

NIKE: AFN also received athletics wears and shoes for free from NIKE. If the tradition remains, there are possible chances that the NSC would have paid for the same kits as if they were acquired in the open market. This conclusion is reached in view of the fact that the IAAF pays for the salaries of the Secretary General while the NSC still pays for the same.

Confederation of African Athletics (CAA): AFN got about N60 Million reimbursements for participation from CAA championships. Can the NSC say it clearly that they did not or never paid for Nigeria’s participation in the last four years.

National Sports Commission

The AFN received about N670 Million from the NSC in the past three years for all its activities except for the Olympics but including Secretarial fees. Mr. Ogba in fact made reference to his spending of N500 Million (See: AFN/GEN/AFF/431/VOL.1/137 17 January 2011) despite also noting that AFN needed just N315 Million for 2012 (See: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/11/afn-demands-n315m-for-2012-activities/)

Therefore, given all the above, AFN’s total revenue between 2009 and 2012 exceeds N1.3 Billion even without 2012 London Olympics allocation.

Baribote vs NPL: ‘Tell Jalla to leave this case’

Baribote: wetin this Jalla dey find sef?

A Federal High Court in Abuja presiding over the the case between the ousted Nigeria Premier League (NPL) board led by Chief Victor Rumson Baribote and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) which has been adjourned to 5th of February is gathering a side storm.

A source close to the plaintiffs in the matter said, “much as we have a very good case against the NFF, what is the interest of the President of the National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF), Harrison Jalla? Please advise him to leave this case for us. His entry is ruffling feathers so badly. We are simply not comfortable in their entry.”

The matter which first came up for hearing on the 21^st December, 2012 and continued on the 28^th December 2012 where Jalla was arrested by the Police and detained illegally for more than 15 days, wherein, Jalla applied to be joined as an interested party.

 The NPL board led by Chief Victor Baribote had filed an experte motion for an interlocutory injunction restraining the NFF, NPL and any agent acting on their behalf from carrying out its (elected-NPL board) functions.

Jalla’s counsel, Belo Aideloje, had applied to be joined in the matter. At the resumed hearing of the matter, Aideloje told the court that the two parties before the court cannot and should not be heard given that they are not competent. He referred to existing judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja which ruled that the NFF and the NPL are illegal bodies which to date have not been vacated in any superior court.

Counsel of the NFF and Baribote jointly argued strenuously as to why Jalla and his NANF should not be allowed in the matter. After listening to Aideloje whose motion was already before the court, the Presiding Judge, Justice A.R. Mohammed of Courtroom 7 Abuja, adjourned the case to next month when he is expected to rule on which motion will be adopted between those of the three parties.

The Chairman of the dissolved NPL board believes due process was not followed in the removal of his cabinet from office.

“We were wrongfully and unlawfully removed from office on 11th December, 2012 by the NFF and NPL Club chairmen, Baribote asserted.

It will be recalled that nineteen NPL Club Chairmen held a Congress at Trix Air Hotel in Abuja on the 11th December, 2012 and passed a vote of no confidence on the Baribote led NPL board citing gross misconduct, misappropriation of funds, lack of title sponsorship of the league amongst other accusations.

For Egbunike, I dey laugh. Where lies our athletics future?

Sports Minister, Abdullahi...right in this matter but

Sports minister, Bolaji Abdulahi, was quoted to have disclosed that Innocent Egbunike has no valid contract with the NSC or the AFN to coach Nigerian athletes.

True. Good outcome. Some of us fought for our brother, Egbunike to be appointed as the national coach for Athletics. When he was approached for the job, we asked, give him a four year tenure. Surely, I also remembered that I said it clearly that, a short crash programme for the Olympics won’t work.

He was lured in. He was told to take the task and deliver and that the contract issue will be sorted out. It was like he lobbied for the job the way and manner he rushed in. I remembered I insisted that he must get the contract papers signed, sealed and delivered.

Read the minister’s words again. He has no contract. He has been used, paid off and that is it.

A colleague said in reaction: “it seems Egbunike, who still holds the national 400m record for 25 years running, will have to wait until 2016, perhaps he would be called upon to do a rush job just like he did at the last London 2012 Olympics. He was brought in with only four months to the Games and the result was clearly seen on the medals table.”

Reading through the minister’s speech, he added, “I haven’t seen a contract that says he is the head coach of the AFN”. Very correct.

“He came purposely for the London 2012 Olympics and we only helped with his entitlements for that period. However, he did a good job, if there is anyway we can retain him, we will do so,” said Mr. Abdullahi. Uhm! What a way to tell a workman goodbye.

I am sure the former African 400m champion, had been waiting for the green light from the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) or and the National Sports Commission (NSC) to put his thoughts of revival into play.

The irony is this, Egbunike remains one of the few trained and qualified Athletics coaches in the country. There are just very few of them. Not the charlatans that the AFN claims and is forcibly trying to train as ‘coaches’ many of which are drop outs and drug couriers.

Desperacy ran Egbunike into the ditch. Now, I do not have sympathy for him and neither will any reasonable Nigerian have sympathy for him because he forsook his house and packed into another person’s house when it matter most. He’s thrown away and his empty abandoned house is not happy to welcome him back. Welcome to the feral hands of cold.

Is anyone bothered and asking questions of how do we revive the crashed fortunes of the country in Athletics? Or are we hanging our nation’s athletics fate in the hands of ‘coaches’ who tell young girls that ‘if I have sex with you, you will be a world beater’ and for the girl to say, ‘I am a good Muslim, I say no’, she was called names publicly and verbally attacked, dropped. She improved and was shunned for the ill fated World junior. Please sing the ‘nunc dimitis’ while we siddon look.