Sports

Uncovers Plot To Blackmail Sports Minister Over NPFL Reforms

Published

8 months ago

January 20, 2023

The Interim Management Committee of the Nigerian Premier Football league has uncovered plans to use some sections of the media to blackmail the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, over the ongoing domestic league reforms.

BSNSports.com.ng gathered that after two failed attempts to label him as a hater of the Fulanis and later as the Minister in 2015 and 2017 who blocked a foreign investor from taking over the league and all the stadia in the country (recall Dare was not the Minister of sports in 2015 and 2017) failed, people connected to the former LMC and who have benefited over the years have hired some media to write fallacious stories that the GTI, the new company partnering with IMC and NFF gave the Minister 10% of the One Billion Naira promised the league.

The story planned to be published soon is being delayed because there is no shred of evidence attached to it. The plan is simply to drag the name of the Minister in the mud.

Investigations revealed that a top football official based in Nasarawa is one of the people behind the blackmail plot.

The IMC has, however, warned the blackmailers of the consequences of defamation and character assassination.

At an IMC briefing on Thursday where a journalist raised a question about the insinuations about the N1billion and the 10 percent to the Minister, Dr Gbenga Elegbeleye, Chairman of IMC, described such insinuations as wicked and from blackmailers.

Reacting to some baseless allegations of misappropriation, Elegbeleye said; “Such insinuation can only come from a sick mind, a jaundiced mind or a paid blackmailer because there is no N1billion naira anywhere. GTI is to raise the money.

“GTI didn’t give us a dime. They only gave 200 Million Naira to 20 clubs, at 10 Million per club, and this money was not given to IMC.

“GTI is economists, they’re bankers, they promised to help us raise funds, using their image.

“As a very credible organization, we believe in them, but we said before we go ahead, how can you help our 20 clubs for a start because they need support. We agreed that Ten Million Naira is given to each club, and this money was not given to IMC, it was credited directly to the account of the clubs, so we didn’t have access to the money.

“Secondly, on the issue of the referee, we said to pay the referee directly from your account.

“So for anyone to say GTI gave us 1 Billion Naira, 100 million Naira for Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, that shows they are part of the failed system.”

“If Sunday Dare is a real man, why did he fight the old system he had a lot of money to throw around to continue staying in office.

“Such insinuation can only come from a jaundiced mind or a blackmailer. GTI Group didn’t give us a dime. The only money given to us by GTI Group was N200 million for the 20 clubs at Ten Million Naira per club.

“These monies were not given to IMC. GTI is not a title sponsor but a special vehicle to drive the league to where it ought to be, they’re bankers and promised to help us raise funds using their credible organisation and we believe in them. So, we pleaded with them to help the 20 clubs with Ten Million Naira each to kickstart the league. The money was not given to IMC but was credited to the club’s account.

“So, for anyone to insinuate that GTI Group gave IMC One Billion Naira and 10% of the money goes to the Honourable Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, this statement can only come from the beneficiary of past failed system.”

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Sports

NYG 2023: FG Charges Participants to compete Fairly In Spirit of Unity

Published

12 hours ago

September 23, 2023

The Gleamer

As the 2023 National Youth Games kicks off, the Federal Government has called on participants in the country to ensure they compete fairly in the spirit of Unity of the nation.

The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu gave the charge today when he declared open the 7th edition of the National Youth Games holding in Asaba, the Delta State Capital.

The President stated that the aim of the games which was conceived in 2013 was to reposition sports at the grassroots level and to facilitate the discovery of budding talents in the country.

Represented by the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, the President stated further that National Youth Games serves as an effective platform for talent identification and development as well as a level playing ground for young athletes to achieve excellence in sports and not necessarily to compete for the purpose of winning medals alone.

He explained that the Games was designed not only to enhance and elevate sports globally and regionally, but also to establish a standard for athletes’ succession from one generation to another and enable for athletes participation in their community development as well as reinvigorate national unity and collaboration amongst them.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu informed that his administration is committed to the development of sports in the country and that was why he specifically created the Ministry of Sports Development and assigned a colossus administrator, Senator John Owan Enoh to drive its affairs, in line with the policy thrust of government.

The aim he added, is to ensure that sports move from mere recreation to job creation, thereby providing opportunities for poverty reduction amongst our youth, both male and female through government’s agenda of inclusiveness thus, improving on the security of our dear nation.

The President who congratulated Delta State Government for hosting the games urged officials and athletes to compete with the spirit of fairness and togetherness, while putting the interest of the nation ahead.

He wished the athletes a fruitful competition.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Governor of Delta State Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori stated that since inception, the National Youth Games has proven to be a cost effective and reliable tool to promote national unity, advance development and peace at both national and sub-national levels.

He observed that if this is effectively harnessed, sports has the power to positively impact on the economic and social wellbeing of any society.

Sports, he noted, *plays a great role in the realization of development and peace, in its promotion of tolerance and respect, and the contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and of young people, individuals and communities, not to mention its health, education and social inclusiveness objectives.

The Governor noted further that the belief of the Deltans on these ideals was unshakeable and that is why he.said,*the Government of Delta State has continued to make its resources available to host national and international sporting competitions

In 2018, he added, the state hosted the African Senior Athletics Championship, and in November 2022, the 21st National Sports Festival.

Gov. Oborevwori reiterated that the Stephen Keshi Stadium has become a venue of choice for hosting national football championships, as Delta is becoming the beehive of sports in Nigeria.

He assured all participants of a peaceful and exciting games as security personnel, protocol officers, traffic management teams, and volunteers are on ground to ensure a peaceful, safe and secure environment for free and fair competition.

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