Dr Patrick Ekeji, a former Director-General of the defunct National Sports Commission, NSC, Friday evening intervened in the raging dispute between Imo athletes over unpaid camping allowances ahead the now postponed National Sports Festival earlier billed for Benin City, Edo State.
Ekeji, who is chairman of the Imo Sports Commission Review Committee, thus prevented what could have been a total breakdown of law and order in the state capital following his immediate intervention as he stepped in to pacify the Sports Commission athletes who were protesting the allowances made available to them for their three weeks camping.
It was gathered that Ekeji was in a meeting with members of his committee including Professor Ken Anugwoeje, Dr Ogu Mr Abara and other members, while the athletes protest raged.
The embittered athletes alleged that they were being paid only five hundred naira a day by their officials after funds were provided to offset their three weeks camping before the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival was suspended by the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development in conjunction with the Federal Government.
The athletes demanded for the head of an unnamed Director of the Commission who they accused of masterminding their shortchange for the three weeks they spent in camp preparatory for the now suspended Sports Festival.
At this point, Ekeji left his Committee’s meeting and came to address the angry athletes, bringing out the best of his human management skills to calm the frayed nerves of the aggrieved athletes numbering up to 100.
The former Green Eagles defender and later coach made the athletes to understand that, he, Ekeji, is one of them and that he will not allow them to be cheated.
He demanded for their leaders who negotiated with the committee. Ekeji later assured them that he will meet the governor to present their needs before the next three days, much to the admiration of the athletes who were happy that for the first time someone addressed them like a father .
