Alliance Hospital Owner, Otabor Frowns At Ministry of Sports Over Payment of Ikhana Treatment

Alliance Hospital Owner, Otabor Frowns At Ministry of Sports Over Payment of Ikhana Treatment

By Niyi Busari

Founder, Alliance hospital, Dr Christopher Otabor has shown displeasure with the way Federal Ministry of Sports laid claim to payment of Kadiri Ikhana's treatment, BSNSports.com.ng can report.

Reading from pages of newspapers that the Federal Government through the Ministry of Sports supported Coach Kadiri Ikhana financially for his treatment, the orthopedic surgeon says he was disappointed when he called the Coach and learnt that the sum of Five Hundred thousand (N500,000) was the money given to him from government for two hip surgeries that costs the hospital Ten Million and Five hundred thousand (N10.5m).

In an exclusive interview with BSN Sports, Otabor reiterated that he didn't expect anything from government, saying that he was not happy with the way Ministry of Sports want to claim glory after giving the coach less than five percent (5%) of what cost the Hospital to perform two separate successful surgeries on him.

In his words, "I read something in the newspaper that I didn't quite like, that federal ministry of youth and sports supported the treatment of Ikhana financially. To the best of my knowledge, I'm not aware. I called Ikhana and he said that ministry of sports paid Five hundred thousand (#500,000) into his account and and I asked, for what purpose? He said the money (N500,000) is payment for the treatment bills.

"Anybody that hear that federal government through ministry of youth and sports is supporting someone's hospital treatment will not be thinking of N500,000 out of N10.5m. If they paid up to half of the money, they can have the bragging right, but when they gave less than 5% and put it in the media, what they are saying is that the hospital has not done anything. So, it is either there is mischief somewhere or they want some accolades for themselves.

"Then, I asked myself, did they pay his feeding allowance during the treatment period? did they pay his transport fare or hospital bills? This is what I don't understand." He added.

"No one has ever talked to the doctor that did the surgery. Or asked what next to do for him to continue is coaching career." He concluded.

BSN Sports efforts to speak with the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare proved abortive following his failure to pick when our correspondent called his phone number. However, Special Adviser on Media to the Minister, John Joshua Akanji said he is not aware that any hospital treat the coach for free.

In his words, "I'm not privy to this claim of free treatment, but Ministry gave Ikhana money to foot part of his bill."

Dr. Otabor, in 2019, after watching Kadiri Ikhana on television when the Coach was appealing to Nigerians for assistance called the former Enyimba handler and did two different hip surgeries that cost more than Ten Million naira for free. The former Super Falcons and Kano Pillars coach is now fit to continue his coaching career.

Kadiri Ikhana in 2013 led Enyimba International to winning the first Nigeria CAF Champions League title.