Age Discrepancies Query: Gadzama calls for Okowa’s resignation and suspension of Moshindi

First Vice President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, Tafida Gadzama has called for the resignation of Tonobok Ojuru Okowa, President of the federation, and the suspension by the Federal Ministry of Sports Development of Rita Moshindi, the Secretary General of the AFN.

Gadzama has also called on the Presidency to probe the AFN over the discrepancies as well as the Audit Committee report of the federation that indicted the Secretary General and asked Okowa to refund some money taken from the federation.

Reacting to the Athletics Integrity Unit, AIU’s query to the Federation demanding for explanations on why four of Nigerian track and field athletes have multiple date of births, Gadzama expressed surprise Okowa and Moshindi could keep the letter from the AIU from some of the members of the board of AFN, especially the two Vice Presidents.

‘This is news to me albeit I am the first Vice President of the AFN. I have asked Mrs Rosa Collins who is the second Vice President and a couple of others and they also expressed surprise that our president could keep such a damaging information away from us,’ said Gadzama, an African and Olympic Games gold medal winner for Nigeria.

The AFN chief is however not surprised that the AFN has been queried by the AIU.

‘The AFN has been turned into a secret cult and when you are obsessed with winning instead of focusing on the development of the sport, this is what you get,’ added Gadzama who insists Okowa should resign to allow for proper investigation by the Presidency albeit the AIU is also probing the federation.

‘For even getting the AFN to be queried over age discrepancies for the first time since I can recall, I demand that Okowa should resign.

‘The Sports Ministry should also suspend one of its staff, Rita (Moshindi) who was seconded as the AFN Secretary General’.

Gadzama revealed this and other technical and administrative blunders committed by the AFN would have been avoided if Okowa had listened to wise counsel.

‘We have always advocated for issues to be discussed by the board before decisions are taken. That was what was obtainable during our time as athletes when Alhaji A.K Amun, Mr Smart Akraka (both late) and Engr Oluyomi Adeyemi-Wilson were in charge of the federation ably assisted by competent technical directors like Rotimi Obajimi and the late MAK Ogun.

‘During my time as an athlete, AFN issued us with licenses renewable every year. The license contained vital information such as our names and date of birth which makes it impossible for athletes to have multiple date of birth. But since politicians took over the running of the federation, their focus has always been on winning so that they can justify their Presidency,’ lamented Gadzama.

He is also insisting the Presidency should undertake the probe.

‘We don’t have any confidence in the Sports Minister and the Sports Ministry after the Minister (John Enoh) failed to institute an independent panel he promised after his meeting with AFN board members in late February.

‘This is over four months after and Minister Enoh has behaved as if nothing is happening. We sent him the AFN Audit Committee report which he ignored. We are not sure he can renew the hopes of our athletes that President Bola Tinubu has promised us.’

Gadzama has also called on stakeholders, especially ex-athletes, coaches and technical officials to end qualified Nigerians who understand the sport and has proven themselves elsewhere are made to get on the board of the federation and not politicians.