NSC: Sports Transformation, Intrigues and Ineptitude – By Dr. Rashid A. Balogun

This short article focuses on recent events in the country by some sports federations and NSC, a commission without commissioners which I think calls for a pat on the back. I refer to the shouting by NSC that illegal football federation received about N250Million for accommodation and other expenses during the confederation cup while at the same time seeking NSC funding for the same purpose. Well, this writer is one person that is not amused rather was shocked that the same NSC did nothing when over N1Billion was being collected by the athletics federation in the past four years that was brought to NSC attention in an article ‘titled Athletics Fraud of Nigeria’.

It is however clear that NSC stance may not be unconnected to the judicial declaration of illegality of the so-called football federation but it does appear that NSC is gradually facing the reality that the judicial branch of the country’s democracy will likely cite the Sports Minister in contempt or even worst Inspector General of Police may soon arrest several individuals. In as much as the National Assembly calls for a probe of the Football Federation and NSC in respect of their budgets and spending, pundits are very hopeful that all sports federations will be probed soon as well and let chips fall wherever it may.

Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN)

AFN (since it appears to be under sole administrator) on its part retained some so-called newspapers reporters identifying themselves as sports writers to go around to gag and brainwash current athletes with wildest statements, such as Solomon Ogba (that federation illegally imposed leader through airline ticket bribery scam) is using his monies to fund the federation but when some athletes responded that they have never heard any other bogus statements like that before, those writers resorted to all sort childish comments including calling this instant writer insane. Unfortunately a barking dog does not consider whose property it belonged, therefore, those sports writers are nothing more than a toothless bulldog until the next Minister is installed.

Those athletes scream that Solomon Ogba borrowed money from Rosa Collins (a former athlete) over three years ago for the World Championship only to be reimbursed from NSC on the same amount of money already paid by the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF), a scenario directly similar to the football federation concern raised above. They further noted that, it is their business to inquire on how Ogba became so-called wealthy without a profession and jobless which baffles them. They also noted that Ogba continue to favour Blessing Okagbare and only Delta State athletes just as Brown Ebewele candid commentaries to Tunde Elebute recently. Well the Sports Minister, as usual is ‘awol’.

However, some people were threatened with lawsuits by one of Solomon Ogba cronies while Ogba himself according to a report asked Yussuf Alli to sue this instant writer as a result of Yussuff involvement in the destructions of athletics in Nigeria. The key alert here, is Ogba will someday explain his source of wealth, his true identity (identities as known outside Nigeria along with his original birth date in his academic records) and why he failed to file US income tax returns, declares every dollar he brought to US in the past, how he paid athletes or declare his Worldwide Bank accounts while he was the sole administrator of sports in Delta State. These are valid questions that will shed light on whether or not Solomon Ogba has a moral compass to hold any office of trust in Nigeria.

AFN now prepares to go the World Championships for senior and junior where again in the senior category the country again relies on Blessing Okagbare in as many as four events, the same scenario at the London Olympics and this writer, ask again, what sort of Sports Transformation Dictator Bolaji Abdullahi talked about when the same athletes and the same officials remained at the helm intact?

Football

Aside from the illegality of the Football federation, the other concern remained the state of the country’s team performance outside Africa along with the occasional spat on who controls the national team and clubs. Clearly, without a body corporate empowers by law to administrate elite football in Nigeria the current system is doomed.

Though, the so-called LMC may have good agenda but a house built without foundation is nothing other than crumbled concrete and it only takes a matter of time but the unfortunate thing is that the club competitions will be reverted back to mediocrity unless capable hands intervene immediately. Such hands got to be a consensus among those established clubs.

And on the Youth scene as with the senior team, the country does not lack talents but has a severe shortage of skillful individuals giving the chance to assist.

This ends this short brief article, as we celebrate holiday weekend and I am on the road.

I rest

Dr. Rashid A. Balogun, CPA, LLB(Hons.), LLM(London)