House Committee Chairman lied against Senator Enoh- Sports Ministry

The Ministry of Sports Development have described the recent newspaper reports credited to the Chairman, House Committee on Sports, Hon. Ekene Adams accusing the Sports Minister of insincerity in sports development as tissues of lies just as it stated that his motivation is self- serving and unpatriotic.

In a press release signed by Mrs. Kehinde Ajayi, Director/ Head, Press and Public Relations Unit of the Ministry, it noted with disbelief that the Honourable member in his attempt to push this strange narrative questioned why the Minister still allocate funds for the renovation and maintenance of the Ahmadu Bello stadium in the 2024 budget after the stadium had been handed over to the Kaduna State Government and went further to accuse the Minister of opaqueness in the disbursement of Federal Government’s N12 billion Intervention Fund.

The statement noted that after going through the self-serving news report, which is at best hollow, unfounded, and bereft of facts, it would appear that Hon. Ekene Adams takes for granted, the burden of the high office he presently occupies on behalf of his constituents and the responsibility that comes with it. Having acted in such an undignified and unparliamentary manner in the pursuit of his personal vendetta, positing that the sad commentary has the consequence of bringing to public odium and ridicule, the image of the legislature as an institution.

According to the release, it’s common knowledge that Hon. Adams has been sick and indisposed since the beginning of this administration and he is at best, the Chairman of the House Committee on Sports in absentia having spent a lot of time in hospital taking care of his health.

The statement went further to remind him that the Minister of Sports Development has had to visit him in his sick bed in the hospital at some point and that as a result of this reality, it is safe to conclude that he’s out of touch with reality and therefore incompetent to make an informed comment and fully appreciate the ongoing raft of reforms in the sports sector under the guidance and leadership of the Minister of Sports Development.

On the instance where Hon. Adams wanted to know why the Minister allocated budget for the renovation and maintenance of Ahmadu Bello stadium in the 2024 budget after the stadium had been handed over to the Kaduna State Government, the release said that it is a clear demonstration of his ignorance of the state of affairs within the sports sector and how out of touch he is; saying that no budgetary provision was made for the renovation of the said stadium and that If such a provision was made, it would still constitute an indictment on the Committee on Sports he chairs whose duty it is to scrutinize the budget before passage.

“The allegation of opaqueness in the disbursement of the N12 billion Federal Government’s Intervention Fund by the Ministry is spurious and untrue.

“First it is difficult to understand which N12b he is refering to. If it is the close to N12b that Mr. President intervened for outstanding debts owed various male and female football national teams, the Honourable Member should have been aware that the Minister instituted a new accountability and transparency process to ensure prudence in the management of the fund.

“He should have equally known that, although the entire money was released to the Ministry of Sports account but at the Honourable Minister’s directive, the entire sum was fully transferred to the account of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF); the appropriate body that incurred the outstanding debts, and this can be verified.
“Everyone both in the Ministry and the sector acknowledged and applauded this move as an uncommon display of transparency.

“Hon. Adams’ allegation of opaqueness is therefore founded on avoidable ignorance and / or mischief. Given the channels of communication the Minister already established with his committee, it would have been easy for him to seek and get clarification if only he wanted to play fair and in good faith.

The Ministry further stated that if his reference to opaqueness in the disbursement of his so called N12b is in respect of the yet to be held Olympics and Paralympics Games in Paris, Hon Ekene should have known that there is at present, a request before Mr. President for funding intervention and for the avoidance of doubt, the request from the Ministry is fully backed up with a detailed breakdown of every expenditure item and that the funds to be approved will be based on this detailed budget.

Furthermore, the Ministry stated that the scorecard of the Minister speaks eloquently for itself positing that as a result of his leadership, there is a new atmosphere of transparency in the sports sector anchored on his belief that it is the only way that the private sector and corporate Nigeria can have the confidence enough to invest in the sports sector in an era of promoting sports as business but that unfortunately, what Hon. Ekene Adams is promoting in his pursuit of self interest is to demarket a sector he claims to own and know more than anyone else.

The release reminded the Honourable member that at the last African Games, the Hon Minister held a no holds barred session with athletes, during which he openly provided every detail of their entitlements to the last kobo and this was hailed as the first of its kind.
And that even at the just concluded meeting of the National Council on Sports in Enugu, the Hon. Minister regretted that not every athlete and official had been paid but still gave assurances that under his watch, no one will either be short changed or denied his entitlements noting that the Ministry is now in a strong position to put all matters about the African Games behind it within the next one week which will still be a first, despite the regrettable delays.

The statement also stated that Senator Enoh having spent 20 years with the Legislative branch both at State and Federal levels, holds this very important branch of government in the highest esteem; in both his private and official conduct and has continued to show them respect.

” Since his appointment as Minister of Sports Development, Senator Owan Enoh has not failed to be personally present to attend to any invitation from the National Assembly. Unfortunately in all the sessions the Honourable Minister has held with the House Committee on Sports, the said Hon. Ekene Adams had not been available. Even the just concluded Council on Sports meeting was attended by a committee member in representative capacity.

“With unassailable character, undiluted patriotism, unwavering commitment and unrelenting work ethic that the Honourable Minister has continued to apply in the discharge of his duties, critical stakeholders at home and abroad, sports loving Nigerians, especially those who know him well enough and are abreast with the great job he is doing in the Ministry of Sports Development will find Hon. Adams allegation of insincerity with the development of sports laughable and a personal vendetta taken too far.

It stated that the ringing endorsement of the reforms initiated by the Honorable Minister by the just concluded meeting of the National Council on Sports composed of critical stakeholders drawn from the private sector, states and the Federal government, is indeed a defining moment in the march towards developing sports in our clime and taking it to greater heights in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration.

Finally, the Ministry expressed optimism that In spite of the muck raking campaigns orchestrated by powerful vested interests and reactionary forces who seek to put the ongoing reforms in the sports sector in reverse gear, the Honourable Minister will continue to initiate robust and constructive engagements with patriotic and critical stakeholders in the sports sector in line with the mandate of his office.
” We’re convinced that national interest will continue to influence and shape the decisions of the Minister.

“This commitment is not negotiable. The Honourable Minister will continue to resist attempts by forces propelled by selfish interest who will stop at nothing including the deployment of lies and campaign of calumny to have their way.

“Senator Enoh’s belief that no matter how powerful we think we are, the national interest remains the singular most important consideration in decision making, and remains unshakable”, the statement concluded.