Presidential Aspirant for Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Rosa Collins has cried foul over the singular decision of Youth and Sports Minister Solomon Dalung to cancel the bye-elections into some Sporting federations scheduled to take place a day before their inauguration.
Delegates for Athletics Federation Nigeria, AFN, Gymnastics Federation of Nigeria, GFN and Nigeria Taekwondo Federation, Nigeria Judo Federation as well as Nigeria Rugby Federation from all parts of the country already gathered inside Abuja National stadium last Thursday and were told that the re-scheduled election into their various positions have been cancelled, even after their accreditation. Only Gymnatics Federation Nigeria later held their election on Friday.
The decision to hold a bye-election emanated from obvious irregularities from previous exercise upheld by the election Appeal Committee which cancelled June 13, 2017 elections that produced the likes of Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau as AFN President. The Appeal Committee was chaired by Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Abdulrazak Salawu.
Injured by the reversed decision solely by the Sports Minister, another AFN Presidential hopeful, Rosa Collins described the incident as abnormal and cried out for justice.
The former African record holder in Triple jump who was literally in tears afterwards, remarked; “This election has been postponed times without number only for the Minister to tell us that no bye election again after delegates from all states of the federation have gathered at the National stadium.
‘’…there is this man called Ibrahim Shehu Gusau, he lost woefully in the primary of Zamfara state gubernatorial election, this man do not even have passion for sports, I don’t know what he is looking for in athletics”.
‘’ I have contributed to the growth and development of sports in this country. I have served this nation more than any other person have done, I don’t see Gusau coming here to deny me of my right.
‘’Up till now, no reason was given for the cancelation of the re-scheduled election; I think Nigeria government needs to start evaluating peoples brain before giving them ministerial post.
‘’The Minister has just buried athletics again. With this kangaroo leadership, we will look for athletics and we will not find the game. If we continue like this, international body will ban athletics and all Nigeria athletes will not have platform to compete again, is this what we are looking for in Nigeria,’’ she questioned.
Barr Dalung had in his inaugural speech during the swearing-in of 29 out of 31 constituted federations asserted that he had no hand in the emergence of any board member and their leaders.
