NYG: Sack Kogi Sport Commissioner now- Frustrated athletes beg Gov. Bello
Some athletes in Kogi State who are now frustrated due to their inability to travel for this year National Youth Games, (NYG) billed for Asaba, Delta State, have called for the sack of the State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development Hon. Idris Musa.
They made the call during an interview with journalists on Thursday morning.
It was earlier reported that athletes in Kogi State are currently stranded over failure of the Government to release funds for contingents to travel.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, one of the Athletes who identified himself as Arome noted that Hon. Musa is the worst sports Commissioner in the history of Kogi State.
According to him, in his three and half stay in office as Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Kogi State sporting activities have continued to witness retrogressive.
He called on Governor Yahaya Bello to quickly intervene to rescue Kogi State sports from total collapse and extinction.
Arome, also warned that it will be suicidal for successive Government to appoint an individual who has no knowledge about sporting activities and Youths engagement.
While appreciating Governor Bello for being a listening leader, Arome appealed to him to use his authority for the prompt release of funds for athletes to participate in 7th NYG in Asaba, Delta State.
“The present Commissioner is our biggest problem in developing sports in Kogi State. Since he was appointed, he has failed to engage athletes, inform our Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello of competitions we are supposed to participate. All he keep doing is sitting in the office. We are not surprise with his under performance.
“He knows nothing about sports. Since he came on board, it has always been fire brigade approach to competitions. Now look at it, we are still stranded in Kogi State for the 7th National Youths Games while our counterparts from other States are already in Asaba, Delta State. Is it not a big shame? And they say we have a Commissioner that is working.
Corroborating the positions of his colleagues, another athletes who identified himself as Malik said ” We are begging Governor Yahaya Bello to please terminate the appointment of Hon. Idris Musa and put someone who will take our sport to the next level and not kill it. Some of us here are national champions in a various sports. But now that the hope of participating is gradually fading away, how are we going to defend our championship?
” Once again, we are begging on the Governor to release funds so that our dreams of representing Nigeria in international competition will not be murdered. Further more, we are also using this medium to appeal to our Governor to appoint technocrat that has deep knowledge in sports and not someone who will come to office for his own selfish gains”.
One of the coach who never wanted his name to be mentioned told journalists that Kogi State risked being banned from participating in future sporting events if they fail to participate in this year competition.
Continuing, he said ” I must give kudos to the Director of Sports in Kogi State Mr Onipe Halli Obakachi. He has been working round the clock to see that funds are released for our athletes to participate. But as it stands now, it has not produced results . Instead of the Commissioner for Youths and Sports to be at the forefront to ensure that Kogi State is well represented, he is busy chasing shadows. Hopefully, something can still come out from Government for Kogi State to travel for this event”
All effort to speak with the Kogi State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development Hon. Idris Musa proved abortive as at the time of filing this report. He failed to pick calls or respond to test messages sent to his phone lines.
A total of 77 contingents are expected to represent Kogi State in the 10 days sporting event in Asaba.
Kogi State will be featuring in different sports such athletes Athletics, badminton, cricket, boxing, table tennis, Taekwondo, tennis, shooting, weight lifting, wrestling, beach volleyball, and Judo.
The Federal Ministry of Sports Development had announced September 20th – 30th, 2023 as the date for the 7th edition of the National Youth Games, which will be held in Asaba, Delta State.
