Athletes Clamour For Better AFN Leadership

Athletes Clamour For Better AFN Leadership By Editor Nigerian athletes have lamented the crisis rocking the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, and tasked the federation to put its house in order and give them quality leadership. The athletes took to social media to vent their anger, complaining about lack of welfare and events for them. The AFN and the supervisory sports ministry had been at loggerheads after a faction led by Olamide George, the federation’s vice president, suspended the president, Ibrahim Gusau, which forced the Gusau-led board to declare autonomy from the ministry at a congress in Awka, Anambra State last December. Gusau dragged the sports ministry to the Federal High Court in Abuja, with the court ruling July 1 that he remained the AFN president. The Appeal Court also affirmed the High Court ruling, throwing out the sports ministry’s appeal for lacking merit September 25. “As we are protesting and asking for reform for our great country, I am peacefully protesting for a better management of athletics from the Athletics Federation of Nigeria because Nigerian athletes deserve better #EndSARS #Endbadgovernance,” 2019 African Games 100m gold medallist, Raymond Ekevwo, wrote on Facebook. “Nigerian athletes are raising their voices over the continuous crisis rocking the AFN and are asking the federation to put its house in order. No peace for the wicked, those heartless AFN leaders should be ready,” quarter-miler, Eraiyokan Orukpe, also wrote. Discus thrower, Princess Kara added, “This is to the Nigerian athletics federation, if any. I might not be an Olympian or African Games champion or even Commonwealth champion, but I intend being one someday and with the way the Athletics Federation of Nigeria is doing things, I don’t think people like me have a chance to go that far in this country. We want an end to poor treatment of athletes, mismanagement, no payment of allowances, no competitions year in year out, tribalism/favourism of athletes and coaches and embezzlement of funds meant for athletes. “I come in peace and with a heavy heart. Nigerian athletes deserve better!!! We need change, we need good leaders and men who know what it means to serve the nation.”