The anarchical sports sector Obasanjo left behind
By John Ojidon
Posted to the Web: Wednesday, June 06, 2007
[IN TODAY’S “VANGUARD” NEWSPAPER]
ON the 29th day of May 2007, ex-President OBJ handed over the governance of this great and complex country to a new President and regime. Already Nigerians and the international community have begun to analyse and express their opinion on the President’s achievements and shortcomings in all sectors of service to the nation. While he is rated very high in his stout stand on corruption, bribery, probity, transparency, security, due process, and many forward looking reforms, we, sincere pioneers in the sports sector, rate his government all time low.
Even though, at different times, public opinion polls remain consistent that the President has not achieved, he has remained absolutely unconcerned about what people feel or say. By his recent actions and appointments he has plunged the sports sector into a state of anarchy to be managed by a Kebbi “Biumvirate.” Ka’oje has been appointed the Executive Chairman of the National Sports Commission and “Mr. Fix it,” Dr. Amos Adamu, as the Director-General in a near privatisation exercise approximating a one-state winner take all honour and stake.
OBJ can never convince time tested pioneers and administrators like me (except through bullying or mere presidential prerogative.
A. Minister who recently shamed and embarrassed the whole nation with a brazen display of culpable ignorance abut national and international regulations governing transfer of players in the footballer sector, cannot be the person to hold over 28 sports Associations with well articulated and result oriented efficiency. I have nothing personal against a complete gentlemen engineer who should otherwise be performing productive wonders in his professional field but I am vehemently opposed to any one accepting a job he is ill-equipped to do just because of the glamour and benefit or authority attached to it.
The sports sector is the sector that touches the lives and emotions of peoples of all ages (particularly the youths) of this country and has brought the greatest honour to the country from colonial days till today and it would be gross disservice to plunge it into anarchy and deprive us of its pleasant dividends. So Mr. President “we no dey kampkpe” at all. At 81 and with over 60 years link with sports I dare say we have never had it so bad.
B. Contemporary analysis of our sports journey down the memory lane.
1.Colonial Regime (1914-1960)
Solid foundation was laid at this time and administration was in the hands of private volunteers mainly in the Education and Mercantile services. Many Associations were formed and duly affiliated to relevant international bodies. Later the Armed Forces joined and Associations had a calendar of competitions very meticulously followed. Nigeria had won British Empire and World Heavyweight titles in Boxing, through Hogan Bassey, British and Commonwealth records in High Jump through Ifeajuna 6ft 8in and Julius Chigbolu later 6ft 91/4 ins and several regional and continental honours and athletics, lawn tennis, table tennis, cricket etc. The greatest achievement is grassroot development promoted and sustained through the well organised talent discovery annual competitions. Hogan Bassey World title in 1957 makes him the third African in history to win such title behind Algeria’s Marcel Cerdan in 1948 and South Africa’s Vic Toweel in 1950.
2. Post-Independence Regimes 1960-2007
Spanning over 47 years, governed by 3 civilian and many military regimes, comparisons off-head are a difficult task for an 81-year-old man, and I intend to confine myself to very unique and significant developments.
A. Pre-Obsasanjo’s civilian regime
All regimes whether civilian or military were engaged in productive consolidation of what was bequeathed by our colonial masters. More sports governing bodies were formed and a wide variety of competitions in various sports were held. Talents were discovered, developed and exposed and Nigeria became a force to be reckoned with and respected at continental and world levels. World class infrastructures like stadia, swimming pools, tennis courts, boxing and weightlifting gyms had been built at state and national levels. The introduction of sports festival in 1973 challenged and sensitized state governments and sports received a big boost and talents were produced in large numbers like Guinea pigs and Mushrooms.
Nigeria had won enough of the honours that make a nation world power in sports. Some of the honours were:
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Two world boxing titles through Amaigbo-born former Aba bottle selling lad —late Dick “Tiger” Ihetuonye.
2 Olympic, a commonwealth and African Boxing Titles through Konyeawachie, Fatai Ayinla, Eddie Ndukwu, Obisia Nwakpa, Okorodudu etc. -
In tennis – Nduka Odizor (The Duke) reached Wimbledon 2 Round, Mathias Nwabunor had won the Ogbe Hard Court veteran singles and paired Walter Obianwu to win the veteran doubles. Other players like Awogbegba, Thompson Onibokun, Patrick obi, Akinloye, Elizabeth Ekong, Imafidon Vero Oyibokhia, V. Imoleme etc reached top ranking and won national, sub-regional and continental, honours.
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In athletics, we had continued to win top honours at international meets. Athletes like Ajadop (the flying salesman) Adeola (the flying policeman), K.A.B. Olowu, Violet Nwajei, Modupe Oshikoya, David Ejoke, George Ogan, A.K.O. Amu, Pam, S. Bada, Bruce Ijirigho, Ohiri, Emily Edet, M. Onyeali, C.Ighagbon, V. Emenanor, Jimmy Omagbemi, Egbunike, Otono, Urhobo, Elili brought us international honours crowned with Ajunwa’s Gold Medal and Nigeria’s 4 x 400 metres relay gold at the Olympic Games. The latter was won after the disqualification of USA drug cheats.
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In weight lifting, Judo, Taekwondo, Basketball, Hockey, Table Tennis we occupied highly respected positions with continental and world titles.
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In football (a) We had won the Nations Cup twice and were runners-up four times. (b) We had won the Kodak U-16 World Cup maiden edition in 1985 and lost at the final in 1987. © We had qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 1994 and also in 1998 and reached the second round on both occasions. (d) we had won the Junior World Cup (U-20). (e) We had won the Meridian Cup (f) We had won African Women Championships (g) We had won one 1996 Olympic Gold etc (h) We had won African Cup Winners Cup. (i) NNB of Benin had won WAFU back to back and would have won it for the third consecutive time had Nigeria not withdrawn from the competition in 1985. (j) Nigeria had by organising credible competitions and participating in continental competitions, exposed talents who were scrambled for by foreign clubs where they are now making fortunes for themselves, and their clubs thereby projecting the proud image of Nigeria.
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The decay and anarchy- courting regime 1990-99
The danger signal came with the first major appointment of irrelevant personnel into our sports administration and the consequent promulgation of Decree 101 which took no cognisance of international statutes, rules and regulation and went ahead to codify repugnant provisions. In utter infraction of Article 7 of FIFA statutes (now Article 17 and 18) the Decree legalised government interference and control of the football sectors and career civil servants and irrelevant government nominees took over the sectors playing their way into positions in confederation and world sports governing bodies standing and ad hoc committees at government expense and sponsorship.
Two damaging actions with negative effects were taken during this period.
- The mysterious appointment of Dr. Amos Adamu a sole administrator of NFA – an unknown event in the history of football administration. The state FA’s were relegated to the background and volunteer administrators and sponsors went into oblivion giving room to those who belonged or thrived in sycophancy. Various useful documents were lost, disregarded or destroyed and large scale fraudulent practices were installed.
In spite of FIFA’s circulars condemning the situation, Government ursurpation and control of football administration via Decree 101, remains a repugnant tool for government interference. After Adamu’s regime some efforts were made by the incumbent military administrators to curb fraud and financial misdeeds and misappropriation and some perpetrators were sacked or relieved of their posts but most of them have bounced back to bigger posts and more lucrative money spinning areas.