BY Remi Sulola
Sunday Dare, minister of youth and sports, says he will not be distracted by the unfounded allegations and blackmail that have now become a “cancer” in the country’s sports administration.
The minister spoke on Tuesday at the annual general meeting (AGM) of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Benin, Edo state.
Dare, who was represented by Olusade Adesola, permanent secretary of the ministry, said the current sports administration will not be stampeded into taking decisions that are inimical to the reforms taking place in the sports industry.
He also affirmed the place of due process in whatever the ministry does.
On Thursday, TheCable had reported how Ahmed Isah, founder of Human Rights radio, allegedly accused Dare of bribery to the tune of N200 million.
Reacting to the allegation, the minister asked Isah to retract the statement and apologize or be slammed with a N10 billion suit.
“I will not be distracted by unfounded allegations, insinuations, brazen blackmail and the putrid smear campaign that have now become a cancer in our sports administration,” Dare said.
“I speak only for myself. But I want to see things done differently. It will take time and patience laced with some tenacity to insist on things being done correctly.
“As minister of youth and sports development, I lead the new dispensation of a transparent and accountable sports administration at all levels within the ministry and the federations.
“Orchestrated and deliberate attempts to stampede the government or input without proof actions or inactions are not in the best interest of sports development.
“There are global standards to investigate allegations. It bears stating here that we live in a country where the rule of law exists.
“The institutions of law charged with fighting corruption and funds misapplication must be allowed to perform their functions. Anarchy reigns where the rule of law is jettisoned or where a few decide to take the laws into their hands. The wheel of justice turns at times slowly, but it surely turns.
“Nigeria cannot change them simply because some people are in a hurry to get justice and by any means possible. We have seen how painstaking, thorough and sometimes how long investigations in international sporting bodies have taken. Some are still ongoing.
The minister also reiterated an earlier demand that the NFF address the negative perception of corruption around it.
“The first step towards reducing corruption is for all transactions in football to be transparent and it starts now. Transparency should be new watchword if the NFF and its affiliates want to do the business of soccer to rake in millions as is the case in other climes,” he said.
“Transparency can only be attained when the activities of the federation are subjected to routine checks, while those found culpable are made to face the wrath of the law, no matter whose ox is gored.
“If corruption is reduced, blue-chip firms will return to support the federation to actualize some of its noble objectives which include recreating a sustainable nursery to catch talents young and stop the viscous cycle of age-cheats, which happily has been reduced, given the reports from FIFA in the last age-grade competition where no Nigerian failed the test.”
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