Drama As Lagos Inaugurates Sports Associations

Niyi Alebiosu, Lagos - 03.05.2008

CONSPIRACY and politics reared their ugly heads on Tuesday in Lagos during the official inauguration ceremony of the various sports association chairmen and board members by the state’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

The ceremony, which was witnessed by family and friends of the appointees, witnessed what could be described as “high drama” when the programmes’ brochure earlier distributed was suddenly withdrawn.

The drama began when the proposed chairman of the Lagos State tennis Association, Mr. Adeyemi Bero, was replaced by one Mr. Adesokan to the surprise of all.

Tribunesports scooped that Bero and Adesokan were members of the prestigious Ikoyi Club 1938 and were both nominated to be on the board by the state governor, Babatunde Raji Fasola.

But, it was discovered that Bero, a member and financier of the tennis section of the club had been given a letter as chairman of the association, which he brought to the ceremony.

But to the surprise of many including Bero himself, Adesokan, the chairman of the Ikoyi Club 1938, was announced and sworn in by the commissioner.

The ugly development angered Bero who held on to his confirmation letter as chairman and described the inauguration of Adesokan as illegal, saying: “I have my letter, is a joke this inauguration.”

However, Tribunesports gathered from a source at the governor’s office that a top official effected the change to suit his plan. The top official was said to have preferred Adesokan because he believed his preferred Bero would be too busy to be involved in the running of the association.

An observer who witnessed the drama but would not want his name mentioned in the media condemned the action, describing it as a slap on the face of the state governor, saying, “it will bring tennis backward in the state.”

Another top government official also told Tribunesports that the matter had caused disaffection amongst the two friends and club members and that the issue would have to be settled by the governor himself.