By Demola Atobaba, Ado-Ekiti
The recent unwholesome developments that have affected Nigeria as a nation owing to the disqualification of some of the country’s athletes over drugs related negligence and protests by the affected athletes have attracted the attention of Ekiti Sports Circle.
The Sports Circle comprising active and retired sportsmen and women at the inaugural meeting of its Steering Committee held in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, noted that negligence and lack of commitment and patriotism led to the unfortunate situation.
It added that key stakeholders who ought to have done the needful prior to the Olympics had failed the country and should be sanctioned by appropriate authorities.
Ekiti Sports Circle who has the Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Comrade Qozeem Oladapo as the convener, also bemoaned the failure of the country’s sports administrators and the Sports ministry’s officials for shirking in their responsibilities to appropriately advise the Sports minister, Mr Sunday Dare on how to avoid all forms of national embarrassment.
The group noted that the most recent ban slammed on one of the country’s medal prospects, Blessing Okagbare on allegation of drugs use was pointer to the fact that the country’s sports administrators have failed the country and are not doing enough to save the sports career of the athletes.
While noting that the protests embarked upon by the affected athletes was a huge national embarrassment, the Ekiti Sports Circle frowned at the inability of the biggest African black nation to win a single medal after a week since the Tokyo Olympic Games began.
It said it was high time Nigeria stopped attending global sports competitons to make up the numbers, rather prioritize its medal prospects.
The group prayed further embarrassment does not rock the camp of Team Nigeria at the world’s biggest Sports Fiesta, the Olympic Games.
Some sports stakeholders at the meeting are a season’s sports administrator, Pastor Abraham Ayodele, Coach Samuel Oladipo, Coach Peter Ojo, Mr Adedeji Adu and Mr Toye Alabi.
Others include Mr Olusola Adegoke, Mr Simil’Oluwa Akingbasote and Mr Tunde Adewole.