Unfounded allegations of Deji
Oru Leonard
As the nation’s sports enthusiasts continue to dissect the outcome of Nigeria’s poor performance at the Paris Olympic 2024, Adeyanju Deji, a vocal public commentator has penned an open letter to President Tinubu, calling for the sack of the Sports Minister.
Deji’s letter has sparked a response, aiming to set the record straight on certain allegations. The first point of contention revolves around Favour Ofili’s omission from the 100 meters race, a decision widely criticized by Nigerians. However, contrary to Deji’s claims, there was no Local Organizing Committee (LOC) appointed by the Minister for athlete registration, as this falls outside the Minister’s statutory purview.
As the debate rages on, it becomes clear that the fate of the Sports Minister hangs in the balance. Will President Tinubu heed Deji’s call for change, or will the Minister weather the storm? One thing is certain – the nation demands accountability for its sports performance, and the conversation has only just begun.
In a scathing response, the Ministry of Sports Development addressed the insinuations made by Adeyanju Deji regarding Team Nigeria’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Point by point, the Ministry clarified the misconceptions and misinformation spread by Deji.
Firstly, the omission of Favour Ofili from the 100 meters race was indeed regrettable, but the Minister had no role in athlete registration, as this falls under the Nigeria Olympic Committee’s purview. The Ministry has vowed to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Deji’s claim about the men’s 4×100m relay team’s disqualification was also debunked, as it was actually the men’s 4×400m team that faced disqualification due to a technical infringement. The Minister’s involvement in this incident was unfounded.
Furthermore, Deji failed to mention any instances of athletes’ registration and documentation issues, aside from the Ofili case. The Ministry emphasized that there were no other issues in this regard.
The accreditation of athletes and coaches was also not a problem, contrary to Deji’s insinuations. The Ministry provided necessary logistical support to the Nigeria Basketball Federation, which prepared their teams adequately. The women’s basketball team even had their coach recognized as the best female coach in the competition.
Lastly, the Ministry addressed Deji’s claim about a team member borrowing a bike, stating that this was entirely false. Nigeria’s cycler, Ese, was fully equipped for her race and did not borrow a bike at any point.
The Ministry concluded by emphasizing the importance of factual accuracy before making public statements, urging Deji to be more responsible in his commentary.
