Controversy
has trailed the resignation of Solomon Ogba as a board member of the Athletics
Federation of Nigeria.
Ogba’s resignation came barely
24 hours to the AFN board members’ parallel meetings in Abuja and Awka, Anambra
State.
While the meeting at Awka is summoned by the president of the AFN, Ibrahim
Gusau, that of Abuja was called by the new secretary-general of the AFN, Adisa
Beyioku.
Board members of the AFN are
currently divided, with some loyal to the AFN president and others to the
sports ministry.
Though Ogba blamed undue
interference in the activities of the AFN for his resignation, there were
allegations that he resigned to escape being probed over the spending of IAAF
$150,000 grant.
It was learnt that the
details of the expenditure of IAAF grant for the 21st African Championships in
Athletics held in Asaba in August 2018 are yet to be made known to the board
members.
Ogba, in a statement by his
media adviser, Olukayode Thomas, said, “I am not comfortable with the dirty
politicking that has taken over the AFN lately and that has informed my
decision to quit the board.
“Things are now being done
without recourse to the law binding the federation.
“As an elder statesman in sports and athletics, in particular, I cannot sit and
continue to watch things being done wrongly.
“Though, I have withdrawn from
the AFN board, I will continue to give my support to the athletics in Delta and
Nigeria as a whole.”
On his part, an AFN board
member, Brown Ebewele, insisted that Ogba should be held responsible for how
the IAAF grant was spent.
“The IAAF cannot relate with
anybody except the AFN. The money is paid into the federation’s account. Who
was the head then? Ogba is talking nonsense,” he added.
