Former acting director of sports at Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Dr Nneka Ikem Anibeze has showered encomiums on National Sports Commission (NSC) director-general, Honorable Bukola Olopade, for playing the role of a peacemaker in her recent dispute with ex-athlete, Fatima Yusuf-Olukoju, Sports247 reports.
This comes after Anibeze, who is currently special adviser on media and publicity to the minister of arts, culture, tourism and creative economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, initially sent a petition to the NSC in the aftermath of Yusuf-Olukoju’s victory in the election for a place on the board of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
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Anibeze had also copied the AFN in her protest letter, after both esteemed ladies contested to represent Nigeria Association of Women In Sports (NAWIS) in the athletics body and, though Yusuf-Olukoju reportedly won the election 30-15, the ace broadcaster alleged that her opponent floated article 7.0 of the federation’s guidelines and 5.0 of the NSC.
While also alleging that many of her delegates from Niger, Borno and Bayelsa States were controversially disqualified from casting their votes during the electoral process, Anibeze averred that Yusuf-Olukoju should have been disqualified for not meeting up to the guideline that stipulates at least six months’ residency in Nigeria before the election takes place.
However, Sports247 gathered early Wednesday that, while stressing that she had a watertight case in her petition, Anibeze, who was also a former special adviser on media to the minister of humanitarian affairs, Honorable Sadiya Farouk, has agreed to withdraw the protest due to Olopade’s intervention.
Anibeze declared, “I thank the DG for coming in and brokering peace. It actually wouldn’t have gone well (for the sector) if he did not make this move.
“He called everybody, including the NAWIS president (Mariam Suleiman), to point out some articles in the guidelines of the election and let her know that, if they had gone to the tribunal, they would have lost.”
Anibeze concluded by affirming that she agreed to sheathe her sword based on the respect she has for Olopade and due to her recognition of the roles Yusuf-Olukoju has actually played through the years in the development of Nigeria’s athletics sector – as an athlete, coach, mentor and administrator.
“DG also called me, and we agreed to accept her tenure. She’s also an icon, and she has her plan for women and girls; which is in line with my own plan.
“That means we share the same passion. So, with the help of the DG, we’ve all agreed to work together for the same goal and I believe there are better things ahead of me to do,” Anibeze submitted.
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