BY FOLUSHO ALADE
It is no longer news that another $150,000 (ONE-HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS) has been misappropriated by the ATHLETICS FEDERATION OF NIGERIA (AFN) neither is it a piece of news item that SHEHU IBAHIM GUSAU has been suspended and HONOURABLE OLAMIDE GEORGE appointed as the acting president of the AFN.
Still not a piece of news that former AFN president, EVANGELIST SOLOMON OGBA has resigned from the Board of the AFN while suspended ‘President’ SHEHU GUSAU chaired a Congress in AWKA, the ANAMBRA STATE capital about 24 hours ago where he declared that he is still the President of the AFN.
Plenty drama playing out in the HOUSE OF ATHLETICS in the last 72hours you would say.
Let us look at the events one after the other;
First, the news broke early Monday of the misappropriated $150,000 WORLD ATHLETICS (FORMERLY IAAF) grants meant for the AFRICAN SENIOR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIP, “ASABA 2018” held in ASABA, the capital of DELTA STATE in 2018.
Then an Evangelist and former AFN president, SOLOMON OGBA resigned from his position as a Board member of the AFN.
The Board members rejected his resignation saying “the Evangelist resigned because of an impending investigation over the misappropriated World athletics grants”
The Camp of MR SOLOMON OGBA said the resignation came about because of interference from the Ministry of Youth and Sports development.
OGBA’s antagonists says that a false alarm, an escape route and an attempt to divert attention from the real issue.
What is the real Issue?
The Board members rejected his resignation.
According to BROWN EBEWELE a Board member and ex-international “Ogba should go and tell that to the Marines.
“When we hosted the African Junior Championships in 1997 in Ibadan, the IAAF gave AFN $90,000 to assist in the hosting of the championships.
“ We know how this thing works and he shouldn’t come and be telling us cock and bull stories. The board is not interested in his resignation.
“ We will go ahead with our investigation and will involve the anti-graft agencies if necessary,”
Another Board member, DARE ESAN said “These are laughable claims really. “Ogba should tell us who is not following the letters of the AFN constitution between Ibrahim Gusau, president of the federation who has turned himself into a sole administrator and the eight board members who demand justice, accountability and transparency?
“The AFN constitution Gusau imposed on members says a 60-day notice must be given before a congress of the federation is convened but what did he do, he called for one on November 5, 2019 for December 4, 2019 in Awka, Anambra state.
“ I think there is a difference between 29 days and 60 unless Mr Ogba says there is none. So, please ask Mr Ogba who has violated the federation’s constitution,” ESAN asked.
“Gusau signed a deal with sportswear manufacturer, PUMA without the knowledge and signature of the chief executive officer of the federation and somebody is saying he has done no wrong? Common, Mr Ogba, we are no fools.
“The incredible thing common to all these releases is that Gusau is still owing the athletes allowances. The athletes, 25 of them, are owed $300 each for Doha despite collecting N35m from government amid revelations that World Athletics paid for the travel and accommodation of all the athletes 100% and subsidised the accommodation of 14 officials by 55%;
‘ the youth and junior athletes have not been paid a dime as allowances while those who were in Asaba last year got less than $400 each for CAA’s flagship event” according to DARE ESAN.
These are indeed weighty allegations, ones I think neither MR SEBATIAN COE, President of the WORLD ATHLETICS nor DR THOMAS BACH, President of the IOC would be proud of.
The Evangelist’s Story;
In a statement released through his media adviser, MR OLUKAYODE THOMAS on Monday, MR OGBA posited that the said $150,000 was explicitly given to the LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE LOC to assist in the hosting of the continental championships (AFRICA SENIOR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS) tagged “ASABA 2018”and not meant for the AFN.
The statement went further to say “It is a global norm that when cities are to host important events, governing and continental bodies give monetary and technical assistance for the LOC and not the AFN”
FIFA does similar thing in football just like other world sporting bodies” the statement read.
From the above statement, MR OGBA admits that a sum of $150,000 was actually sent by the then IAAF.
The question now is; who received the funds?
Whose account was the money paid into?
Who determines how the funds are disbursed?
What is the role of the AFN when Nigeria is hosting such international athletics events?
Was IBRAHIN SHEHU GUSAU aware of the said fund?
These are unanswered questions and many more, unfortunately we live in a clime where People occupying leadership positions don’t feel they owe the followers answers to questions.
In my opinion, I think the Evangelist and his handlers missed telling us something very important; was the money paid into Evangelist SOLOMON OGBA’S account in his capacity as the chairman of the local organising committee of the Asaba 2018?
As an Elder Statesman as far as Athletics is concerned in Nigeria, MR OGBA should have rolled out the modalities involved in the disbursement of grants from governing bodies such as IAAF.
I think these foreign donors would be happier if we can articulate how we spend monies given to us in the form of Grants to develop our sports no matter the discipline.
These Monies come from Major partners and sponsors; these guys demand some form of accountability too.
The impression I got from the Statement released by MR SOLOMON OGBA through his Media adviser is that of an LOC Chairman who got a fund, grant or call it whatever you want from the IAAF and he decides it is meant for the LOC not the AFN and unilaterally disbursed the fund.
I hope I am wrong!
The Ministry of Youth and Sports development under the leadership of HONOURABLE SUNDAY DARE is working to ensure sanity returns to the Sports Federations.
Recently he approved the refund of the remaining part of the controversial $150,000 paid erroneously into the accounts of the AFN in 2017.
The said money grew ‘wings’ and disappeared causing so much embarrassment to our dear Nation.
Let me quote the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports development, MR OLUSADE ADESOLA “being the president of any federation in the sports sector is a call to national service and not a position any one occupies to build an empire for himself”
I think ADESOLA succinctly captures the mind-set of the average Sport Federation president.
From the NFF to the NBBF to the AFN it is evident that people are all out to build empires.
Personal interest clearly overrides National interest. People covet positions to serve their egos, pockets and enjoy the freebies that come with the position of a ‘PRESIDENT’.
Gusau and the Awka Congress.
In a new twist to the whole drama, suspended AFN president, SHEHU GUSAU chaired a Congress of the AFN in AWKA, ANAMBRA STATE.
With the Congress giving him the support and endorsement, GUSAU declared autonomy and independence from the Ministry of Youth and Sports development.
Maybe independence from the Ministry would be a welcome development if it includes FISCAL INDEPENDENCE from the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The Congress in AWKA just like the Congress that suspended GUSAU and appointed OLAMIDE GEORGE as acting President in Abuja has failed to do one thing; which is to answer the question:
Who received the $150,000 grant from the IAAF for the ASABA 2018 AFRICAN SENIOR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS?
The last time I checked the Misappropriation of a $150,000 grant was what brought us all to this state we are. Why is no one making an attempt to truly answer it?
The Ministry on their part has come out to debunk claims made by EVANGELIST SOLOMON OGBA on the whereabouts of a supposed 850m naira fund made through the Ministry to the Federal Government to support “ASABA 2018”.
In the defence of the Ministry, Permanent Secretary, OLUSADE ADESOLA said the 850million naira FederalGovernment counterpart funding for ASABA 2018 was never released.
According to ADESOLA “Since the AFN and the LOC then failed to present their expenditures and deficits documents which would have necessitated the release of these funds after the successful completion of these games”.
It is indeed a season of FALSEHOODS, HALF-TRUTHS and some semblance of TRUTHs in the AFN.
Plenty accusations and counter-accusations, the pen-pushers are sure having a field day depending on which side of the divide you belong.
This is the time we need ‘true men of God’, Nationalists, Patriots and true leaders.
You may want to ask; what is my business in all this?
Yes! I am in my forties; maybe I can no longer indulge in any form of Athletic endeavour professionally.
Maybe I have passed the age of dreaming of a Podium appearance.
Maybe I don’t belong to the ‘ABUJA AFN BOARD’ or the ‘AWKA AFN BOARD’ or even anywhere near thecamp of the EVANGELIST.
But I am a Stakeholder! I am a Nigerian and a TAX-PAYER.
From my sweat and millions of other Nigerians, the various Sports Federations are funded to develop Sports, boost Youth employment and ultimately bring Glory to our Fatherland.
I am a Stakeholder because someday my Children could want to take up a discipline in the World of Athletics; I need to safeguard their future by asking certain questions on their behalf now.
Therefore, I challenge OLAMIDE GEORGE, IBRAHIM GUSAU and EVANGELIST SOLOMON OGBA to answer this simple question;
WHOSE ACCOUNT WAS THE ASABA 2018 IAAF GRANT PAID INTO?
FOLUSHO ALADE is a Sports commentator and a Public Affairs analyst, he resides in Abuja.
