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The answer to the
above question is no, judging by the structures Bio, the sports
minister and chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), has
found himself with.

There is absolutely
no wisdom in pouring pure water into a dirty container and expect human
beings to consume such. It is criminal. Just as it is useless talking
to a wall, there is no sense in proposing fresh, proactive,
life-changing and intelligent ideas, to “demi-semi” illiterates, who
are visionless, inept and morally bankrupt – to say the least.

The truth,
therefore, is that Bio has no business doing business with majority of
those with him in the NSC, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and
the sports ministry. They must be thrown “over-board”, or advised to
resign honourably. Bio must not be allowed to swim with sharks.

Reports reaching us
from Abuja, confirm that the cool-headed, calm, media shy, but very
astute ex Federal Transport Minister, is already being perceived as an
enigma, within the sporting fraternity.

Even union leaders,
bear testimonies of his effectiveness while he was at the transport
ministry. We are made to understand that he still rides his personal
cars and goes about his duties without the usual fanfare exhibited by
his predecessors.

So, is this the
“messiah” we have been praying for? Is this the God-sent fellow to
rescue Nigerian sports? Well, only God has that answer for now, and of
course, time will tell.

The fact is that
truth is bitter, and in most cases very repulsive. Most human beings
hate it and would rather listen to and accept that which is not true.

For instance, as a
fanatic and apostle of grass roots sports development, I absolutely
agree with Bio, that he would focus, vigorously, on sports development.
Minister, you have an ally here. An organism or organization that does
not continue growing or that has stopped growing will eventually die.
No more, no less.

If this were to be
true of Nigerian sports, and of course it is true, if we are not to
continue deceiving ourselves, then, football, which is my area of
interest and specialization is “dead” in this great nation of ours. And
this is very pathetic. Did I hear you say, “but it is said that we have
the best league in Africa?” Whoever said that should not only be
sanctioned, but remanded somewhere. Why?

Last week
Wednesday, 12th of May 2010, marked 20 years of professional league
football in Nigeria. The statute that established the Football
Association to administer the league, stipulated that all the football
teams registering to partake in the league had seven years within which
to be transformed into football clubs, with all the required
paraphernalia like a club house, formation of other sports teams like
basket ball, tennis, etc as part of the club; formation of functional
Board of Trustees and so on and so forth. But alas, what do we have
today?

A crawling twenty- year old

Check very well and
you will discover the travesty, the bankruptcy we find ourselves in as
a nation. Can you imagine a twenty year old still crawling? That is the
state of the Nigerian football league.

So, one is tempted
to ask what all those who had been through the glass house in Abuja did
while there? I believe Nigerians deserve an explanation. What can
people like Taiwo Ogunjobi, Patrick Ekeji, Sani Lulu and Bolaji Ojo
Oba, and of course the big masquerade himself, the untouchable sacred
cow of Nigerian sports-the one and only Amos Adamu, say about this?
Nigerians deserve to know.

Kudos must however
be given to Adegboye Onigbinde for the efforts he made to transform
IICC Shooting Stars to 3SC. The whole idea then was to establish a
truly functional sports club. But some “alamala” politicians (apologies
to Kojo Williams), would not let him.

Are these the same set of people Nigerians will allow Bio to have around him?

By the way, I
whole-heartedly welcome the idea of the forthcoming National Sports
Summit. I believe and pray that several issues will be dealt with and
Nigerians will be able to decide how sports should be administered in
this great nation.

Let me warn once
again, Bio please tread softly. Watch out for the “banana peels.” May
the God of grace be gracious unto you, and may He rescue Nigerian
sports from the grips of the enemies of this massively blessed nation,
Amen.