A word is good for the wise, a touch is good for an antelope and a repeated shouting coupled with a big stick appears not enough for self imposed ‘sports administrators’ in Nigeria. Readers should note that those so-called administrators are really clueless about sports or management because they were appointed to such roles based on their political affiliation and ‘money’. Its’ with great sadness to confirm the failed mark this writer gave the former sports dictator also known as the NSC Chairman. This is because in less than a year that he returned the same incompetent people to develop sports in Nigeria, the country’s team in various sports will find difficulty qualifying for any international competition from this year forward.
High Performance Ineptitude (Athletics)
Mr. Bolaji Abdullahi, the former Chairman of NSC claimed he was using the President of Nigeria transformation agenda for sports in bringing two illegal aliens to Nigeria named Eric Campbell and Angela Taylor without complying with the Federal Procurement rules for aliens or contracts. He established a Centre for those individuals to work (if you called it that) by converting the country’s only doping centre for such use without the legislature’s approval. This author and others disagreed with Mr. Abdullahi based on his motives, the background of such people and the cost issues. Fortunately, President Goodluck Jonathan dismissed Mr. Abdullahi but leaves those unlawful acts intact, including the High Performance Centre and those illegal aliens to continue.
Looking at the performance of those two illegal aliens, so far, some potential members of this year’s team were sent to the USA to train and compete. Unfortunately a former 10.1second runner is at present struggling to run 10.5seconds and the others exhibited the same declining performances. Few other athletes that were warehoused in mosquito-infested NSDC slave camp in Abuja did not do well either while the two illegal aliens enjoy robust salaries and five-star accommodation.
Illegal Aliens Galore
As if these shenanigans were not enough, the AFN Dictator Solomon Ogba, now imported more illegal aliens like Mark Jelks, Dominique Duncan, Nicole Denby, Mozavous Edwards, Tyron Akins, and others to rubbish the country’s sovereignty in sports with formerly banned athletes for using illegal drugs. Mr. Danagogo are you aware of these illegal aliens, some of whom are druggist gutting our athletics and if so, are you aware of diplomatic row that may ensue? And the last question is whether you are cognizant that some of the country’s selected males 100metres team members will struggle to beat Jamaican female stars even at the Commonwealth Games later next month?
Now, this author asks this question again, did Eric Campbell and Angie Taylor (illegal aliens) deliver any benefit to Nigeria? Is Nigeria sovereignty at the discretion of Solomon Ogba? If not, Mr. Danagogo you must act or you must go! The Presidency will receive a copy of this article.
Status on Commonwealth Games
As to Boxing, weightlifting, wrestling and few other sports that Nigeria will likely send a team, there is no doubt that the country will likely return with few medals but in athletics except for the importation of illegal aliens (mercenaries), the country is simply wasting funds. The sad story to this is the fact that Solomon Ogba at no time ever considers the impact of his action on development of local youth in sports. This is an exemplary incompetence and enough understanding to move sports development back to NSC as an autonomous entity while disengaging any further involvement with AFN or the two illegal aliens.
Once again, it is a defeatist attitude of former Dictator Abdullahi to import illegal aliens to destroy sports development that is being implemented and of course it hasn’t worked and the dictator was sacked, so why does Nigeria continue this sorry episode in the nation’s goal to recover lost glory. Mr. Danagogo take note, take action or you must go.
I rest
Dr. Rashid A. Balogun, CPA, LLB(Hons.), LLM(London)