A sports entrepreneur and Chairman of the Gombe State Athletics Association, Ahmed Shuaib Gara-Gombe has urged President Bola Tinubu to sack Sports Minister, John Enoh over the exclusion of top athlete Favour Ofili from the 100m event at the Paris Olympic Games, describing it as national embarrassment.
In a statement, Gombe suggested that President Bola Tinubu should sanction Enoh, President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Habu Gumel (NOC) and President, Athletics Federation of Nigeria President (AFN) Tonobok Okowa as a deterrent for future abuse.
“Failure to list Favour Odili for the 100m event at the Olympics is unfortunate and a serious embarrassment to Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all sports stakeholders,” he said.
He stated that he was aware of the initial reactions from the Minister of Sports and also read statements and reactions on his X handle, insisting that he did not expect such statements from a minister.
“The negligence, inefficiency and corruption in Nigerian Sports are the root cause of this. Unfortunately, Enoh has promoted corruption in the sports sector and that is why we find ourselves in this mess in AFN. Since the Minister assumed office, he has refused to listen to those who would tell him the truth about Nigeria Sports.”
Gombe wondered why Enoh is pushing the blame to the AFN and NOC, saying: “Yes, the Federations should take the blame, but as the number one sports administrator in the country, he should take all the blame. I put the blame entirely on the minister’s door steps.
“He cannot claim ignorance of the rot in the Athletics Federation. In fact, the Ofili case is just an insignificant fraction of the rot, corruption and inefficiency going on in the Athletics Federation.
“Consequently, in a saner clime, by now, Enoh, Gumel and Okowa should have resigned immediately under normal circumstances. With all that had happened, it would be difficult for the minister to take any action. If he is to act now Gumel and Okowa should be recalled and sent back home.”
Why is it that nobody cared about the psychological effects this action would have on Ofili’s state of mind considering the fact that she is going to represent Nigeria in other events? Gombe queried, adding that no one had also considered the contagious effect the injustice on Ofili would have on other athletes.
“President Tinubu has done everything possible in providing funds for the Olympics contingent. Every kobo we asked for in sports has been provided, but when we asked questions, the minister failed to account for the funds. This is one scandal too many, one negligence and inefficiency too many,” he said.
Speaking further, Gombe insisted that should the minister fail to resign, the President should sack him immediately, adding: If President Tinubu is not ready to sack him, then, we would go to court to request for his sack. I don’t care about NOC or AFN. I’m concerned about Enoh because he is the architect of the problem.”
His comment on his X handle that Nigeria is not the only country having issues similar to Ofili’s case is very embarrassing and should not have been uttered in the first place.
“Besides, telling Nigerians that the AFN and NOC Presidents have not rested since Ofili’s issue came up is uncalled for. When they were supposed to work they were resting. I feel they are resting now. If you investigate carefully, the former AFN and now defacto President Solomon Ogba has destroyed the AFN in the past and he is also the same man dictating the pace in AFN.
“Ogba, a known friend of Gumel, has a free reign between Gumel and Okowa. He heads a committee in NOC and almost 90 percent in charge of AFN. His poor handling of AFN during his eight-year tenure is being replicated in misleading and misguiding Okowa.
“We have a lot of work to do, if all principal actors in this Ofili case fail to resign, Mr. President should Sack the Minister or send him to another ministry. So far, the minister has taken wrong decisions in the country’s sports administration. Gumel and Okowa should return to Nigeria immediately, as they no longer have the moral right to occupy the global space,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Ofili begins her 200m heat today.
