Edo 2020: Blame FG For Shut Down, Uncertainties, Shuaibu Tells Nigerians

The Deputy Governor of Edo State and  Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the ongoing National Sports Festival christened EDO 2020, Mr Philip Shuaibu, has said that Nigerians should blame the Federal Government for the interim shut down and uncertainties around the festival due to lack of  commitment on their part.
Shuaibu said this yesterday while addressing Journalists at the Media Centre of the event.
According to him “the planned shutdown of the National Sports Festival is not due to non-preparation from the state government nor that the facilities are not up to standard but due to lack of commitment from the Federal Government, through the body language of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports,” he said.
He pointed out that during the series of the postponements which cost them alot of money that the Minister of Youth and Sports made firm promises of financial commitment to them to alleviate their losses, this he said prompted them to engage some vendors and service providers, who are now on their neck for payment as agreed.
The LOC Chairman reiterated that if nothing concrete was done before 12 noon yesterday in terms of full commitment from the Federal Government, they would shut down Samuel Ogbemudia stadium complex which is the administrative hub and venue of some of the events and again if by 12 Noon today nothing is done, all the activities will be shut down because their contractors are  threatening for their payment.
Shuaibu, who denied any political undertone lamented that his LOC is being kept in the dark as  per how much has been approved by the Presidency which would have given latitude to use of the instrument and source for funds.
He also said that since the commencement of  sporting events, there had not been any communication between his committee and the Ministry, thus giving room for suspicion.
Also yesterday, there was a statement from the Ministry of Youth and Sports quoting the Minister, Sunday Dare that the festival would continue as the LOC was not in possession of full information surrounding Federal Government’s commitment to the festival.
However, in another twist to the situation, the LOC in a release signed by the Project Manager, Media and Communications, Ebomhiana Musa, said that the Committee had decided that the games had to continue.
The decision followed an emergency meeting by the Committee to review the Presidential intervention over the threats to the festival.
According to the statement, “The LOC agreed that the Presidential intervention is a very strong and direct commitment which we must all respect, honour and take seriously. We strongly believe and respect commitments from the Presidency. We take them by their words. it’s a strong message to us that they’re strongly committed to redeeming their pledge to support us for the losses suffered, arising from the three postponements of the games”.