Ex-NBBF Boss Blasts Reps - Over Calls For Gimba, Adamu Resignation

Patrick Ngwaogu, Abuja - 17.05.2008

FORMER Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) chairman, Alhaji U.K.Umar, has described as irrelevant the recent call by some members of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports for the resignation of both the National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman, Alhaji Abdulrahaman Gimba and the commission’s Director-General, Dr. Amos Adamu for the poor preparation of the country’s team to the Beijing Olympics.

Speaking with Tribunesports in Abuja, the two-time senator from Kebbi State said the call was an overstatement which would not solve the problem, adding that the House should have instead taken a critical look at the incidents that led to the poor preparation.

“Gimba is a political appointee, if he resigns today, another person would be appointed. What is the antecedent of such a person being appointed in sports before his appointment. If they are calling for Amos Adamu’s removal, what do they expect him to do when the money needed for the preparation for the Games was not given to him at the right time?”

“Where I would have supported them is if the money was given to him, and nothing was done, then someone would have a basis for that call,” Umar said. The former IOC member welcomes the Senate Public hearing on the sporting sector in the country, but chides the leadership of the Senate for appointing people without any background in sports in its Sports Committee.

“It sounds funny that with the number of years I’ve spent in sports, I was not considered to serve on the Sports Committee when I was in the Senate,” he said.