NYG: Kogi athletes want Sports Commissioner sacked
Some athletes in Kogi State who are now frustrated due to their inability to travel for this year's National Youth Games (NYG) billed for Asaba, Delta State, have called for the sack of the State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development Idris Musa.
Athletes in Kogi State are currently stranded over the failure of the Government to release funds for contingents to travel.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, one of the athletes who identified himself as Ugbede Ocheja claimed that Musa is the worst sports Commissioner in the history of Kogi State.
According to him, in his three-and-a-half stay in office as Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Kogi State sporting activities have continued to witness retrogressive.
He called on Governor Yahaya Bello to quickly intervene to rescue Kogi State sports from total collapse and extinction.
Ocheja, also warned that it would be suicidal for successive Governments to appoint an individual who has no knowledge about sporting activities and Youth engagement.
While appreciating Governor Bello for being a listening leader, Ocheja appealed to him to use his authority for the prompt release of funds for athletes to participate in the 7th NYG in Asaba, Delta State.
"The present Commissioner is our biggest problem in developing sports in Kogi State. Since he was appointed, he has failed to engage athletes and inform our Governor Yahya Bello of competitions we are supposed to participate in. All he keeps doing is sitting in the office. We are not surprised with his underperformance.
“He knows nothing about sports. Since he came on board, it has always been a fire brigade approach. Now look at it, we are still stranded in Kogi State for the 7th National Youth Games while our counterparts are already in Asaba, Delta State. Is it not a big shame? And they say we have a Commissioner that is working.
Corroborating the positions of his colleagues, another athlete who identified himself as Ufedojo Ogbo said " We are begging Governor Bello to please disengage Hon. Idris Musa and put someone who will take our sport to the next level and not kill it. Some of us here are national champions in various sports. But now that the hope of participating is gradually fading away, how are we going to defend our championship?
" Once again, we are begging the Governor to release funds so that our dreams of representing Nigeria in international competition will not be murdered.
Furthermore, we are also using this medium to appeal to our Governor to appoint a technocrat who has deep knowledge in sports and not someone who will come to office for his own selfish gains".
One of the coaches who never wanted his name to be mentioned said that risked being banned from participating in future sporting events if they failed to participate in the biennial competition.
Continuing, he said " I must give kudos to the Director of Sports in Kogi State Onipe Halli Obakachi. He has been working round the clock to see that funds are released for our athletes to participate.
"But as it stands now, nothing has been done. Instead of the Commissioner for Youths and Sports being at the forefront to ensure that Kogi State is well represented, he is busy chasing shadows. Hopefully, something can still come out from the Government for Kogi State to travel for this event"
All efforts to speak with the Kogi State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development Musa proved abortive as at the time of filing this report. He failed to pick up calls or respond to text messages sent to his phone lines.
A total of 77 contingents are expected to represent Kogi State in the 10-day sporting event in Asaba.
Kogi State will be featuring in different sports such athletes Athletics, badminton, cricket, boxing, table tennis, Taekwondo, tennis, shooting, weight lifting, wrestling, beach volleyball, and Judo.
The Federal Ministry of Sports Development announced September 20th to 30th, 2023 as the date for the 7th edition of the National Youth Games, which will be held in Asaba, Delta State.
