ThFirst Vice President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Mr. Tafida Gadzama, has faulted the alleged sudden change of the federation’s constitution by the Chairman, Mr. Tonobok Okowa.
Gadzama, who is the first and only Nigerian from the northern Nigeria to have won gold in the 4×400 meters relay at the 2000 Olympics Games, held in Sydney Australia, told journalists in Abuja that the National Sports Commission (NSC) and sports stakeholders should be informed of the alleged activities of the incumbent Chairman, Okowa, who is the Vice President, Confederation of African Athletics.
According to him, “It is alleged that the chairman of AFN, Mr. Tonobok Okowa has constituted an emergency congress and changed the constitution to favour his quest for a second term without due process and nothing to show as his achievements.
“His lack of good leadership led Nigeria to miss participation at the World Indoor Championship in China early this year”.
Gadzama said as a sportsman who sacrificed, trained and is making Nigeria proud, he wouldn’t relent in ensuring that there is a good athletes administration to support upcoming athletics talents in the country.
The Olympic gold medalist, therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senate and House Committees on Sports, National Sports Commission (NSC), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, (SWAN) and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the incoming election was done in accordance with the previous approved constitution to avoid breakdown of law and order.
Gadzama noted that poor and bad sports administrations in the past against sports personalities lead to losing Nigeria’s great ambassadors to other countries, like Boxer Anthony Joshua, basketballer Akeem (The Dream) Olajuwon flying the flags of Great Britain and America respectively.
The Olympian calls on the NSC to right the alleged wrong of Mr. Okowa for the good of athletics in particular and sports in general.