Niger Delta Ministry To Spend N1.7bn On Boxing Show

Niger Delta Affairs Ministry is coughing out a whooping $10.2m about (N1.7bn) from its 2010 budget for the sponsorship of the lingering World Cruiser Weight Boxing Tournament between Bash Ali of Nigeria and Gunn of United States, The Tide can now reveal.

The Guinness World Records’ tournament to be hosted by Nigeria at Tinapa resort, Calabar is at the instance of the Atlanta, Georgia – based International Boxing Union (IBU) and has received the endorsement of Nigerian authorities – the presidency, National Assembly, Sports Ministry and National Sports Commission (NSC). If Ali wins, his (and Nigeria’s) name could enter Guinness book of Records as the oldest boxer ever to win such a tournament.

The fight earlier slated for December 12, 2009 could not hold due to apathy and doubt about the authenticity of the fight on the part of Sports Ministry authorities which invariably affected the sponsorship.

To protect what he viewed as a deliberate attempt by the Federal Ministry of Sports to frustrate him, Bash Alli, Nigeria’s World Cruiser Weight Champion and holder of the highest national honour ever given to a Nigerian athlete, Officer  of the order of the Niger (OON) resorted to staying at Force Headquarters Bus stop, directly opposite the Nigerian Police Headquarters, along Shehu Shagari Way, Abuja which he adorned with banners highlighting his plight.

The Tide learnt that the decision of the Niger Delta Affairs Ministry to sponsor the fight was borne out of the conviction of the Ministry’s officials, particularly the Minister, Chief Ufot Ekaette that the fight is a viable project that is good for the nation and indeed, the Niger Delta region, – Bash Alli being a Niger Deltan, from Delta State, although he grew-up in Lagos.

The Ministry first signaled its intention to sponsor the fight via a letter to the Chairman, National Sports Commission, dated August 27, 2009 and signed by one Dahaltu Sule for the Minister.

Titled; Membership in a Committee; with Reference No. CYD/01/07/VOL.1/45, the letter which copy The Tide got in the course of our investigation into the sponsorship of the imminent fight, reads: “I am directed to inform you that the Ministry is in the process of supporting an International Boxing Tournament between Bash Ali of Nigeria and John Keelon of Britain (the opponent of Bash Ali at the time)

“We are therefore seeking for your nominee to serve as member of the committee that will work out the modalities on how to arrange and finance the tournament. Your nominee should be an officer not below the rank of Assistant Director. Please accept the Honourable Minister’s best regard”.

Our investigation shows that although the letter was dispatched and stamped: “Received” on the same day that it was written (August 27, 2009), the National Sports Commission (NSC) did not nominate anybody as requested by the Niger Delta Ministry and that forestalled the composition of the Sponsorship and local Organizing committee for the World Boxing tournament.

The Tide learnt in Abuja that while the imbroglio occasioned by the NSC lasted, Ali protested to  President, Umaru Yar’Adua via a letter dated September 28, 2009 and the office of the President reacted promptly by directing the Minister of Sports to “kindly treat as deemed appropriate”.

The President’s letter, dated September 30, 2009 with Reference No: SH/PSP/22/111 and signed by the Principal Secretary to the President, Mr. David Edevbie is titled: “Re: Bash Ali Boxing Project: Local Organizing Committee”

It reads: “I write with reference to a letter dated September 2009 (copy attached) to His Excellency, Mr. President, from Mr. Bash Ali, OON, World Boxing Champion, regarding the above mentioned subject matter. I should be grateful if you would kindly treat as deemed appropriate. Please accept, Honourable Minister, the assurances of my highest consideration and esteem.”

Our Abuja correspondent reports that there was still inaction in spite of the President’s letter, prompting the intervention of the House of Representatives which deliberated on a motion on the tournament on October 14 and directed the Minister of Sports and Chairman of NSC via a letter signed by Clerk of the House, Mr. Niyi Ajiboye on October 15 “to nominate a member to join the Local Organising Committee of the World Boxing Championship to enable Nigeria satisfy the condition precedent required for actualization of the hosting right which would expire on Friday 16th October, 2009”

The Tide learnt that it was at this point that Sports Ministry and NSC officials nominated a member into the tournament’s LOC but it was rather too late as the Niger Delta Ministry was said to have spent the money earlier earmarked for the championship, prompting the Minister (Chief Ekaette) to be invited by the House Committee on Appropriation and assured that the N1.7 billion if included in the Ministry’s 2010 budget, would be approved by the House.

Informed Sources at the House Committee on Appropriation told The Tide last week that the committee received assurance from Chief Ekaette that the amount would be reflected in the Ministry’s 2010 budget and would be used solely for the purpose – sponsorship of Bash Alli Guinness World Record Title Fight;

When The Tide called at the Ministry office yesterday in Abuja to confirm this, the Hon minister was said not to be on seat but his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Osamor claimed ignorance of the development, saying “I’m not aware of that”. However, Bash Alli when contacted at his Force Headquarters Bus Stop temporary abode confirmed the development.

Ali told The Tide “I met (Chief) Ufot Ekaette, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs Ministry on December 22, 2009 at the National Assembly and he agreed before the chairman and members of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriation that this is a viable project and it’s very good for the Niger Delta so they asked him to go and put it in his (Ministry’s 2010) budget, and that it will be approved so this is where we are, as at today.”

The world renowned pugilist who is referred to in New York Times as one of the greatest boxers to emerge from this part of the world thanked the Cross River State Government for donating the Venue of the fight and supporting with accommodation, food and drinks while berating Sports Ministry and NSC officials for their inaction which has delayed the fight till now and prompted its re-scheduling from December 12, 2009 to February 27, 2010, which is Ali’s 54th Birthday.