Abuja, Nov. 25, 2024 -Sports entrepreneur and former Gombe United FC Chairman Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe has said that only administrators with skeletons in sports can afford to bar stakeholders from expressing their views on sports development in Nigeria.
In a chat with journalists recently, Gara-Gombe noted that on several occasions, he has been barred from expressing his views over major development and appointment in Nigeria sports in Radio and Television Stations in Nigeria.
“All sports stakeholders and those who appreciate my modest contributions in Nigeria sports, especially trying to always put sports administrators and managers on their toes”.
“I advise them not to worry as many people have been calling me, sending messages to my friends and close associates asking why I have been quiet about the reintroduction of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the managers.”
The Chairman Gombe State Athletics Association also reacted to rumours that he had pulled out of sports business and administration.
“There’s nothing to worry about as my silence is deliberate, I’m still in sports, people are saying I’ve quit sports, I’m not out of sports for now because there’s no way I can afford to sleep when certain people who I have differences with about how they managed our sports in the past are now in charge of sports in the country.
“The Nigerian Constitution has given me and all of us the right to participate in lawful activities in the country, in this case, including sports. So, my silence is deliberate, and I will talk at the right time.”
On his travails with a few Television and Radio stations in Nigeria, Gara-Gombe noted
that in the last few weeks, he was barred from featuring on four national television and Radio stations, even a few Newspapers to express his opinion and discuss the newly introduced National Sports Commission (NSC) by the federal government.
“The disturbing part is that those who blocked me using proxies have no idea of what I want to talk about, I don’t know what they are afraid of or why they don’t want me to express my own right and opinion as granted by law.
“I don’t see why they should be afraid,
If they feel comfortable with their past or who they are, why must they go about blocking me?
“There was this station, one hour to a scheduled interview, they called me to say my air time (interview) have been paid for. However, I know about television production, one can’t come two hours to production to tell me my air time has been paid for.
“It doesn’t show integrity of the media, however, I don’t own a TV or a Radio station, but I own a newspaper and I would continue to raise my voice on issues I feel are in the best interest of the Nigerian public.
“The intriguing side of it is that they don’t have an idea of what I want to say whether or not it’s in their favour. So, because people who have skeletons never want a biology teacher to handle a topic on anatomy,” he said.
He assured all sports stakeholders
and those who still have confidence and believe in his contribution to sports in Nigeria to remain calm.
He stressed that he was very much around, concerned, and would pursue swiftly and talk about credible sports development in Nigeria without fear or favour.
“I am currently outside the country, I can also talk from anywhere around the globe, for now, I am busy to start commenting on issues Nigerians are already aware of, but at the appropriate time, no individual or group can cover the sun or the moon with two hands.
“My detractors forgot that social media is also available to me to air my views. At the end of the day, the national interest shall prevail.
Nigeria is bigger and greater than any individual or cabal that wants to hold down Nigerian sports.
Profiteering from it in the last 20 to 25 years must stop, ” he concluded.
On the panel set up by the former Minister of Sports, John Owan Enoh, Gara- Gombe said that as far as he was concerned, the Seven-man Committee did not do a good job.
He noted that they left many issues untouched and didn’t talk about finances and also refused to investigate the AFN on why certain things happened.
“I see no reason why the panel didn’t indict the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC). They also refused to indict the former Minister, and Ministry officials in areas concerning how the over N24 billion Olympic funds was managed.
“The investigative committee under Dr. Mumuni Alao is someone I have deep regards, but honestly, in my opinion, they didn’t do a good job.
The panel’s job was not thorough.
“There were areas left untouched, even though they may claim that the issues were not in their terms of reference. However, I strongly believe that there should be total investigation into all Olympic activities of the Sports Ministry.
“There are also other federations that had their own share of the scandal, I don’t know why AFN was the only one targeted in the panel reports, this is very wrong!
“I am aware of a coach who was accredited as an Olympic delegate with a fake licence. This fake licence was discovered in Paris, which was a huge embarrassment to Nigeria.
“Nobody cared to investigat or mention it anywhere.
“What about the borrowed bicycle? Nothing was done or investigations carried out. It was swept under the carpet.
“I still can’t reconcile why only AFN was profiled while others got wavers.I am not saying those indicted in AFN were innocent, but what about other federation officials?
“I am not sure any of the panel members attended the Paris Olympics. So, why appoint them? That is why their job was not thorough as many things got covered up.
“The man (Sports Minister) who would have been investigated is now hiding in another ministry. What a terrific abbaration, ” Gombe said.
