GWF: Bash Ali calls for President Tinubu’s intervention
Former World Federation Cruiserweight Champion, Bash Ali OON has made a special appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in his lingering crisis with the National Sports Commission on his planned Guinness Book of World Record fight.
In a letter of appeal he sent to the President, on the eve of his birthday celebration, he lamented that not minding the advance payment of $12 million USD and the extortion of millions of naira from him by some officials of the Federal Government, corruption has stalled the first Guinness of World Record Fight in Africa.
According to him, all Guinness World Record Boxing Championship fights have held in the United States of America and his would be the first outside and the most lucrative in the history of Pay Per View Television Revenue, sales of souvenirs, sponsorship, advertisement etc.
The letter states that “I32 countries are billed to come to Nigeria to be part of boxing history and the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has written to the World Boxing Body to guarantee the safety of their members and that the Ministry of Youth & Sports, now the National Sports Commission (NSC) will follow up to ensure timely payment of their approval fee which is domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria by the private sector
The champion further explained that for almost 19 years, to make the historic event a reality in Nigeria, the FGN has on 3 occasions, November 9, 2006, January 7, 2014 and May 21, 2019 inaugurated the Bash Ali Boxing Project Local Organizing Committee with the 3 arms of government comprising of Senate and House of Representatives Committee Chairmen on Sports, Office of the Chief of Staff to the President and Office of the Attorney General of the Federation as members.
The private sector will provide the funds while the FGN will provide an enabling environment for a successful show but regretted that corruption has stalled it.
“My President Sir, It is imperative to inform you that the FGN is not spending a kobo but to provide an enabling environment and in the process earn the glory, honor and money from hosting this historic event.
He further alleged that after some top government officials have collected $12M USD and extorted millions of Naira from him in the name of putting in place the promotional structures, they have stalled the process of hosting this historic fight because he said no to further extortion.
He lamented that the government has failed him for almost 19 years and despite several juicy offers to fight outside of Nigeria, he still refused to give up on his country, Nigeria with an appeal to the President to come to his aid.
On why he took the Federal Government to Court, he explained that he did that in order to get justice but was quick to add that he needs the President’s intervention since he did not leave his comfort zone in Oakland, California, United States of America to fight the Federal Government in a Court of Law but to fight in a boxing ring to bring honor, glory and financial growth to Nigeria.
Finally, he said he’s ready for the matter to be settled out of Court even as he appealed for the immediate re-inauguration of the Bash Ali Boxing Project Local Organizing Committee with all the unnecessary obstacles caused by corruption removed so that the historic fight can hold in the country.
