Those who understand politics, especially
as practised in Nigeria, say it was just a matter of time before
President Goodluck Jonathan removed Bolaji Abdullahi as the Minister of
Sports. Those of us who reason outside of Nigerian kind of politics
believed that those holding public offices should be judged more by
their work rate first rather than affiliations. I sincerely hoped that
the President would consider the work at hand more than listening to the
drumbeat of vengeance from his supporters. But on Wednesday he
expressed just that; he did what his supporters wanted.
It takes Nigerians crying blood before
public officers overtly corrupt are removed from office but a minister
who did not have issues bothering on corruption was swiftly removed over
matters tied to political party and a political rally in Ilorin.
In one sentence his removal was simply a triumph of cheap politics over excellence.
I could never have written anything like
this if Abdullahi were still the sports minister because that could have
been seen as sycophancy. I have always had this space to do
praise-singing but that would be very unprofessional. But with him out
of office, I had to take a look at what he did and failed to do during
his short tenure.
He was in charge when Nigeria won the
Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa last year after 19years of
waiting. The last time the country won the tournament was in Tunisia in
1994. The Super Eagles also qualified for the 2014 World Cup. The Golden
Eaglets won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. It
was the fifth time Nigeria would win the tournament. But these are not
really what I can list for the sports minister who did much more than
that. And of course somebody could say he was not the only person
involved and could draw a long list of others that worked like Stephen
Keshi, the players and the Nigeria Football Federation. That is why I
would like to rather talk about the quality foundation he laid out for
these achievements.
When Abdullahi was appointed the
minister, he met a football sector in total disarray as a result of
numerous and complex conflicts. Nobody could count the number of cases
in court and people with various selfish interests wanted a hold on the
football system. The issues in court related to amongst others, the last
election into the board of the NFF, and even ridiculous but technically
fundamental issue as to whether the FA should be an ‘Association’ (NFA)
or a ‘Federation’ (NFF). Deep under the conflict, Nigeria failed to
qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea/Gabon. He started
first by settling the various factions with a comprehensive peace deal.
It was the settlement that gave the FA
boss, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, the fresh air needed to think and move on
and work hard. Maigari tapped into that and continued on personal note
to run a more open door office and ensure that peace is sustained within
the system.
Under Abdullahi’s tenure, the domestic
football league took a new face. The League Management Company has been
able to restored great sense of credibility and transparency to the
management of the Nigerian Premier League. The football league was
without any title sponsorship but after a big battle, the LMC was able
to secure a title sponsor. The LMC has also achieved a broadcast
sponsorship to the tune of $34m in a 4-year deal. The clubs were paid
participating fees in the past two seasons. It can be much better but
what has been achieved in the past two years gives the hope that someday
we will get there.
The grassroots were not left out. The
National Sports Commission has revitalised the National Academic Sports
Committee (NASCOM), which is tasked with developing grassroots sports.
Some people have complained that the
former minister put so much energy in the game of football to the
neglect of football. That has always been the greatest challenge for
ministers and I agree he gave extra time to football but the mess he met
in football was too much to quickly ignore. And I am also aware he has
been involved with games like athletics, basketball, volleyball and
attending some of their meetings and competitions. I am aware that at
the London Olympics, he covered virtually all the events. I saw him at
different venues. Indeed, his speech in London after Nigeria’s flop was
very noteworthy. For the first time, a minister admitted that Nigeria
failed rather than blame everybody except himself. But since then, the
system has improved and that has reflected going by the subsequent
results achieved in Nigeria’s outings in African and international
competition.
Where I do not hold him in very high
marks is the way the general elections into sports association were
conducted. He started well consulting everyone and then setting out a
detailed programme which if followed would have been fair to all. But
along the line, old foxes in the sports ministry keyed in and everything
changed and that left sour taste in some mouths.
Well, soldier come, soldier go they
say and so I wish Malam Bolaji Abdullahi the best as he moves on to a
fresh challenge. I do hope he learns the politics to ensure survival
better.
My fervent prayer is that
the new man in charge, Tamuno Danagogo performs far above what Abdullahi
achieved for the good of Nigerian sports or at least match the marks.
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