Gadzama to President Tinubu: Bring back Sunday Dare as our Sports Minister!

Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN, first Vice President, Tafida Gadama, is pleading with President Bola Tinubu to return, without delay, Sunday Dare as Federal Minister of Sports Development.

Gadzama says he has come to that decision despite having his differences with the former Sports Minister.

The Sydney Olympics gold medalist says John Enoh, the current Minister, lacks the capacity to head a Ministry capable of solving some of Nigeria’s unemployment problems and that can contribute positively to the gross domestic product of Nigeria.

‘Our disappointing outing at the Paris Olympics is just a confirmation of the lack of capacity of the Minister which he confirmed himself via his statement after the Games,’ said Gadzama.

The AFN chief pointed at some of the good programmes started by Dare but discontinued by Enoh, who is relying only on government money.

‘I remember Sunday Dare started the adopt a talent programme which ensured some of our athletes got between $10,000 and $20,000 to prepare for the Games and not wait for government money to give training grant during the Games,’ added Gadzama.

Dare also got Sports reclassified from leisure to business and was on the verge of getting an executive order made by Muhammadu Buhari on tax holidays for investors in Sports.

Gadzama says Nigeria needs men like Sunday Dare who can source for funding outside government and from the private sector to help in the development of Sports.

‘I vividly remember how he got Alhaji Aliko Dangote to fund the rehabilitation of the Moshood Abiola stadium in Abuja and chief Kensington Adebutu (Baba Ijebu) to fix the scoreboard, pitch and tartan track at the National Stadium in Lagos.

‘He also, for the first time, got private sponsorship for the first Cross Country race in Nigeria in Jos in February 2023. This was after the Sports Ministry sponsored a training programme for middle and long distance runners in Jos.

‘What has Enoh done since he became Sports Minister,’ Gadzama further said and recalled how Enoh promised to set up an independent panel of enquiry to look into the AFN Audit Committee report and the federation generally following the indictment of some principal officers of the AFN.

‘Over five months after the promise was made, Enoh has not said anything, just like he is doing with the non-registration of Favour Ofili for the 100m event at the Olympics.’

Gadzama wants President to either take him to another ministry or relive him of his post.

‘May be he should be taken to the Ministry of Agriculture since he has told us all he is a farmer. What I can say is that he is not the one that can move the sports sector forward.’