Following an inglorious outing in the ongoing Tokyo Olympics by Nigeria and the corruption scandal at the event, some Nigerians have taken to the social media, asking Youth and Sports Development Minister, Sunday Dare, to resign forthwith.
Unimpressed with the country’s athletes’ performance, Nigerians gave it to Dare, particularly on Twitter.
They are unpretentious about their disdain for the sports minister for allowing Nigeria’s corrupt system to affect the nation’s representatives at the Olympics.
Persecondnews recalls that on arrival in Tokyo, there was an embarrassing outing regarding the sportswear of Nigerian athletes.
The first batch of Team Nigeria had donned different colors with a lot of negative impressions that something was wrong with Nigeria.
Comments from the facebook, Twitter are as follow: “Sad, they should have a New Jersey each time they go for competition. Nigeria is such a sad country compare to the western world. These Nigerian Olympic (athletes) should be in a five-star hotel, with everything on the tip of their hands.” — Trisha Everest Rock-Strong.
“Yet they expect results from where they didn’t sow. When it’s time enough, God will reward all of them. Please let them be kind enough to assist you guys back to wherever they invited you from, to endure the embarrassments. Welcome home compatriots.” — Sema Inam.
“See other countries, down to their kits and face masks! Well packaged. But here, corruption! All the money that would have been used to cater for and support our athletes was shared on a round table meeting.” — Chidimma Peace Godswill.
Clement Ubaru: “It is all about corruption. I can bet my last dime everything was provided for but the chronic corruption endemic in all facets of our engagements ruin all plans.
“The people entrusted with taking care of things would rather take care of their pockets. Yes, the buck stops at the minister’s table. He should have done better by demanding and getting regular feedbacks both from the athletes and the officials. That is how sane arrangements work.”
“This is so embarrassing…I’m just glad that the guy understands how things run in his country. I’m also happy that he has let everyone know the situation.” — Caleb-Omini Eteng.
“The only solution to all these problems is recognition of the sovereign state of Biafra and all these shows of shame will stop. But as long as you continue to hold down Biafra, you will continue to have all these types of embarrassing situations.” — Kelechi Okere.
Commending the athletes, David Danladi, wrote: “What is really wrong with our sports ministers, present and past. It’s crazy, God bless our athletes in spite of all this drama they’ve shown dexterity.”
In a copious comment, Etz Queen Harnuh posted: “My best advice to Nigeria athletes is, they should create a group and name it NOC, Naija or Nigeria Olympics committee, where there can represent the country but not governed by the country, even if the country is banned from participating, they can still be involved, that is what Russia athletes did, theirs is ROC.
“ Everyone can go and read on it. To stop our athletes from being embarrassed. Do you know when Nigeria sports page was refreshed last, 2016? The minister of sport doesn’t have any plans for our athletes. That’s why a lot of them were disqualified. That’s why we are not going with a lot of medals cause no form of support is shown.’’
The first devastating blow was the disapproval of 10 of the nation’s athletes from competing at the Tokyo Olympics by the Athletics Integrity Unit.
Just before their departure for Tokyo, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had unveiled Afa Sports as the official kits supplier for Team Nigeria.
It was learnt that Nigeria had a subsisting contract with German sportswear giant, Puma, which has been terminated by Puma of $2.76 million contract it had with the AFN.
“As a direct consequence of the recent developments, particularly at the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 and pursuant to clauses 9.2 and 7.3 of the Agreement, we hereby terminate the Agreement with immediate effect.
“PUMA especially declares to be discharged from any or all obligations towards all stakeholders involved and reserves all rights against these entities and individuals,” PUMA stated this in a statement signed by its Director, Manuel Edlheimb.
An embarrassed Sunday Adeleye, a former Technical Director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) said:“I have never seen such a thing before since he became an adult and followed Nigeria’s participation at the Olympics.
“An athlete going to the Olympics should be well-motivated, and kits are part of it; not when people appear in bathroom slippers and apparel in different colours.’’
