The board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) will, this week, roll out its plans for this year’s African Games holding in Ghana.

AFN President, Chief Tonobok Okowa, stated on Monday, January 1, 2024, that the body would meet this weekend to discuss on certain issues, including the venue for camping of the athletes. He also revealed that the last board meeting scheduled for December 31, 2023, could not hold due to the absence of some of the board members, who insisted on having the Audit committee Report as first item on the agenda.  

   “The AFN board is made up of people with high intergrity. There is no way we will allow a few individuals to dictate for us. The issue of Audit committee Report was debated upon in our last meeting held on December 10, and it was listed as AOB for our meeting of December 31.

The Audit Committee, which the AFN board set up to look into the financial records has five members. So far, only one or two members of the committee have been talking. We are yet to get the full report signed by the five board members.

Not until we get it, there is no way the AFN will treat it as official document. For now, the Audit Committee Report is inconclusive,” he stated.       

Okowa, who is also the President of Africa Region 2 Athletics body, further stated that the AFN board would hold its meeting this Saturday unfailingly, adding that any further delay could affect the preparation of Team Nigeria for the African Games scheduled to hold in March.

He said: “As President of the AFN, I expect that the entire board should fashion out plans that Will move our athletics forward. But a situation whereby a few individuals are trying to drag us backward won’t be tolerated. If by Saturday, these same people refuse to show up for the meeting, the board will go ahead and take decision on our preparation for the African Games and other issues. Enough is enough.” 

               
Meanwhile, Chief Okowa has described as ‘total rubbish’ a statement credited to three board members of the AFN, on Sunday. 
  The trio of Tafida Gadzama, Rosa Collins and Dare Esan had issued a statement on Sunday evening (December 31) saying that they boycotted the board meeting over non-inclusion of Audit Committee Report, African Games preparations in the agenda.   

“Someone drew my attention to their press statement late on Sunday evening, and I feel so disappointed, particularly in Gadzama and Rosa Collins because as former athletes, I expected them to show more concerns on issues affecting the athletes and their preparation for major championships. That is missing from them.                    
“How can they say that some board members criticised the decision for giving less than 16 hours notice for the meeting?

The decision to hold the board meeting on Sunday December 31, 2023, was taken during  our last meeting on December 10. So, how come they are deceiving Nigerians in their press statement?

As I said, people should put aside their personal hatred for one another and work for the progress of Nigeria’s athletics. I wish all Nigerian athletics fans a Happy  2024.”

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