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Assessing Buhari, Expectations From Tinubu: Sports Enthusiasts Speak
On May 29, 2023, Muhammadu Buhari concluded his tenure as the President of Nigeria.
Throughout his two terms in office, Buhari’s administration faced criticism for various missteps and controversial appointments.
One noteworthy appointment that received scrutiny was the selection of Sunday Dare as the Minister of Sports and Youth Development.
As he neared the end of his term, Sunday Dare made a significant decision to partially close the Lagos National Stadium.
This dilapidated structure had not hosted a major event since the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Nigeria co-hosted with Ghana.
Critics and observers of Dare’s tenure often expressed the view that he displayed limited interest in his role and tended to react hastily to situations.
Tosin Abayomi, the Editor for Nigerian Sports at Pulse, acknowledged that in comparison to Solomon Dalung’s tenure under the previous administration led by Jonathan, Sunday Dare represented an improvement.
Tosin said “To be fair, Dare was an upgrade on Solomon Dalung under Jonathan. However, grassroots sports development was not a priority.
“Football suffered. We failed on multiple occasions at the AFCON, AWCON and did not partake at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“Basketball was a mess in the end, as FIBA disqualified D’Tigress from competing at the World Cup due to political tussles between administrators.
“The World Athletics Championships spearheaded by Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume provided some joy. But in general, sports during the Buhari regime was at the back burner.”
Following Muhammadu Buhari’s departure from office, Bola Tinubu has been inaugurated as his successor.
However, Tinubu’s recent decision to eliminate fuel subsidies has resulted in widespread chaos and confusion across the country.
Despite not making an official declaration, fuel stations throughout Nigeria promptly closed, leading to allegations of hoarding which sparked immediate criticism of the new administration, with many expressing concerns about inadequate or ambiguous communication from the government’s leadership.
With regards to the sports sector, Abayomi believes that transitioning to the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot result in a worse outcome.
Abayomi emphasizes that in order to uplift the sector, significant investments need to be made at the grassroots level.
Abayomi said “The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot do any worse in truth. To elevate the sector, there has to be critical investment at the grassroots level.
“Football is the joy of Nigerians. However, other sports with potential must not be neglected.
“Tinubu is a businessman and knowing the opportunity for foreign investment, Sports is a tool he must take advantage of to resuscitate an economy that is failing,” he added
In the aftermath of the escape from its Suleija facility in Niger State, the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has disclosed the successful recapture of three escaped inmates.
Despite these efforts, 106 inmates are still on the run.
Abubakar Umar, an Assistant Controller and spokesperson for the NCoS, dismissed rumors circulating online suggesting that 50 inmates had been apprehended, clarifying that only three had been recaptured.
He said “Aside from the 10 earlier recaptured, three more have been recaptured. So, we are on the chase of 106.”
He further dismissed reports from television sources alleging over 8,000 escaping inmates nationwide.
He clarified that following heavy rainfall damaging parts of the Suleija facility, at least 119 inmates had escaped.
During a visit to the facility, Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, underscored the urgency of relocating the correctional center from its current urban location.
He noted that the facility, originally designed for 250 inmates, was accommodating 499 individuals prior to the incident.
He said; ”Obviously, it was a force majeure. There was a storm and there was a breach of the outer wall of this facility and some of the inmates escaped.
“Of course, we have been able to retrieve about 10 out of the 119. So we have 109 at large and the manhunt is presently ongoing. We will do everything possible to make sure that everyone is brought back”.
Additionally, the Service (NCoS) announced its intention to publish the identities of the escapees at a later time.
In Lagos State’s Federal High Court, businessman and socialite Pascal Okechukwu, widely known as Cubana Chief Priest, was granted bail of N10 million with two sureties in like sum on Wednesday.
During his trial, he pleaded not guilty to charges of tampering and abusing the naira.
Cubana Chief Priest appeared before Justice Kehinde Ogundare facing three counts related to the alleged abuse of the national currency by spraying and tampering with it at a social event on February 13, 2024, at Eko Hotel, which is contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.
At a social gathering, Cubana Chief Priest reportedly engaged in the offenses while dancing, manipulating funds in N500 notes issued by the CBN by spraying them continuously for two hours.
Okechukwu Pascal, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday for alleged naira Abuse.
At the Federal High Court in Lagos, he pleaded not guilty to three charges brought against him.
His legal team is currently presenting arguments for his bail application, requesting the court to grant him bail under favorable conditions.
Charge filed against Cubana Chief Priest below
COUNT 1: That you. OKECHUKWU PASCAL on 13th February 2024,at Eko Hotel Victoria island. Lagos, within the juridition of this Honourable Court.
“whilst dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Nara) Issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying it,and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act.2007.
COUNT 2: That you,OKECHUKWU PASCAL sometime in 2020, in Lagos within the juridition of this Honourable Court,during a social event tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours,and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act. 2007.
COUNT 3: That you,OKECHUKWU PASCAL sometime In January 2024,in Lagos.withih the juridition of this Honourable Court,during a social event tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 [Five Hundred Naira issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same,ond rou thereby committed on offence contrary to and punishable under section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.
More to follow……
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