Ado Salisu
According to Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, Chairman of the Gombe State Athletics Association, the real issue hindering the growth of sports in Nigeria is corruption, not the constant name changes or recycling of officials .
He emphasized that changing names or ministries won’t solve the problem, and that the focus should be on appointing people with integrity, transparency, and a good track record.
My Silence on Nigeria Sports is Deliberate – Gara Gombe
Gara-Gombe also discussed the National Sports Commission (NSC) act, which he believes is faulty and was designed to bring back friends and relatives.
He questioned the legality of the act and the timing of its signing by President Buhari.
Furthermore, he criticized the NSC’s handling of the Ese Brume training grant saga, stating that it was not a favor but her right.
New Facilities Unveiled for Gombe Inter-Schools Competition
He also pointed out that sports worldwide are driven by corporate business entities, but in Nigeria, the government pumps money into sports without accountability, leading to corruption and mismanagement.
Gara-Gombe commended President Tinubu for releasing N24 billion to sports in one year but asked where the money went and who managed it.
He emphasized the need for accountability, transparency, and good governance in Nigerian sports.
Some of the key points Gara-Gombe made include:
Corruption is the main issue: Changing names or ministries won’t solve the problem, and the focus should be on appointing people with integrity and transparency.
NSC act is faulty: The act was designed to bring back friends and relatives, and its legality and timing are questionable.
Lack of accountability: The government pumps money into sports without accountability, leading to corruption and mismanagement.
Need for corporate involvement: Sports worldwide are driven by corporate business entities, but in Nigeria, there’s a trust deficit due to lack of accountability.
Adopt a talent project: The project was not created by Sunday Dare but by late journalist Jide Fashikun during Solomon Dalung’s tenure as Sports Minister