By Eben Enasco Kingsley, Benin City
As politicians intensifies lobbying for different political appointment in the Godwin Obaseki government in Edo State, Sports stakeholders have called on various authorities to put round peg in a round hole by ensuring that a core professional is appointed as sports commissioner.
Our sources who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that it is laughable and lamentable of the poor condition of service, whilst placing blames on the past administrations for conducting its final burial ceremony in sports development in the state.
They appealed to the governor not to waste tax payers’ money on the Okpekpe race project; adding that, no Edo state athlete has benefited from it.
They reiterated their commitment to the all round development of sports in the state if given the material, morale and financial support. Stressing that the long-awaited time for Edo State sports to regain her past glory has come.
“We are very happy that we have a governor who has indicated interest to reposition Edo State in all its ramifications. You will agree with me that sports is a strong unifying force in Nigeria, no matter your religion, culture and political affiliation, the moment there is sporting activities or a competition everybody becomes one. But here in Edo that unifying force has been completed annihilated by the past administration of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
”Look you do not need a prophet to tell you that sports in this state has become moribund for the business it is very important for us to voice out our feelings so that this present government will not make the same mistakes that his predecessor made in the area of sports development”.
“For Edo State to regain her past glory in sports in Nigeria our governor must do the needful. A man who known what sports administration is all about must and should be appointed as head of sports ministry in the state.
Without prejudice, some of the commissioners that have occupied the immediate past one was a monumental failure, a disaster and in fact we have never had it so bad, this is why we are begging our governor to appoint some with a sound resume to manage the Ministry so that Edo State will assume her right position in the Nigeria sports calendar’.
“On my own part, I want to appeal to the governor to look into our condition of service.
80% percent of us have not been promoted for the past 16 years. We need an improved working condition. We voted for Godwin Obaseki because we believed in him and the party’s Mantra change should reflect in every aspect of the state”, our source said.