Is it possible for a chick to emerge from a rotten egg? No, no lab experiment can be inferred to answer the question. No matter how you reasoned, it’s not naturally possible, okay a joker might say a ‘rotten chick’ can emerge but that is simply laughable but still not possible. This writer says, it is time for the National Sports Commission (NSC) or Ministry of Finance to stop funding any federation directly as their principal abroad paid them for the operations and existence. Prior commitment to fund them must stop because it is breeding corruption and even death. Federal funds are not required for any federation to exist because most funding were duplication of funding received by their relevant international bodies for competition preparation and this is not just Football. In fact, prior Ministers were aware; the big question is why did they continue to fund these federations blindly without right of accounting? Is it possible to have a new direction or regime out of a rotten system? The joker will say, you will get a rotten new regime or rotten new direction? Nigeria we hail thee to do the right thing, it is time.
Furthermore, NSC must stop downloading of sports development to federations as those federations never develop any single athlete, this function remains the vocation of several unpaid coaches throughout Nigeria. Therefore, the NSC must hire those coaches to accomplish its developmental goals as federations have their clear-cut identified tasks by their principal and that does not include developing Nigeria. And now, this writer will discuss recent events in major sports in Nigeria, briefly.
ATHLETICS
Former sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi identified about six sports federations where he believed should have been the federal government focus and he installed the same recycled individuals that destroyed such sports as their leaders few months ago. Of course, Bolaji Abdullahi was fired and those individuals have done more harm to the country sports ranking than ever before even now. One can think of Sanni Ndanusa, Solomon Ogba and others.
In athletics, Nigeria can no longer boast of any sprinter except for aging Blessing Okagbare that Solomon Ogba (imposed by that former Dictatorial Minister Abdullahi) now relies on non-Nigerian mercenaries from abroad some of whom were disgraced drug cheats without any credible performance to note to represent the country at the Commonwealth Games. Our local athletes (except those injured after attending slave camps) cannot even beat Jamaican women sprinters and yet the country still thinks Commonwealth Games are worthwhile? That will be the day that heavens fall. Danagogo take note, take action or you must go.
FOOTBALL
Here is a quote on social media by one of the football federation pundit named Salifu Usman, “It is only in Naija (sic Nigeria) that a blind-man will be given driver license to drive people with two eyes.” This writer breached his own protocol of originality but that’s okay because of the significance of the quote, the detail follows.
Football Federation is led by Alhadji Maigari, as alleged is a ‘primary school certificate’ holder where in fact, that federation made sure he qualifies for the next election by enshrining such elementary literacy skill within their constitutional papers as the only academic requirement. Of course, football clubs owners, players and various parties involve with football are lawyers, doctors, PhD’s, Professors but yet they are led by primary school certificate holder. Is this right?
Shouldn’t this scenario be a disgrace to the nation, if not football? Yes, skills acquired on the job may be relevant, but how do the Nigeria leader measure up among the rest of Africa not to talk about the world. Besides, is Nigeria now teaching budgeting or finance in primary schools? Does Nigeria teach management technique and styles in primary schools? Does Nigeria teach elements of footballing in primary schools? These are relevant questions that must precede appointing any federation leader because the answers to those questions establish pre-requisite knowledge to assume any leadership role anywhere except private business. Alas, Football federation is not private business! The world over is laughing at Nigeria and this is not pleasant one bit.
Way forward
As to Football; players, club owners, journalists, Ministers, President Goodluck Jonathan and the entire country must rise to restore the country’s football image on World stage again.
The country must begin such process by appointing knowledgeable and academically qualified people to handle any administrative roles wherever possible. Yes, this article is also aimed at those electing leaders of federations to note never again will anyone without a university degree to assume any leadership role because you are aiding and abetting the destruction our sports. Leaders must have Budget, Finance, Management and Fundraising skills as a pre-requisite.
In addition, the NSC must return formerly delegated sports development back on its fold and money for such purposes must never be handed back again to any federation. A Sports Development Authority must be established to handle athletes’ development. Federations must now handle just their primary role as mandated and paid for by their international principal. NSC or Ministry of Finance can no longer interfere with any of them, nor obliged to fund them.
I rest
Dr. Rashid A. Balogun, CPA, LLB(Hons.), LLM(London)
