Would you like to receive notifications on latest updates of the following headlines?

Peter Obi Berates Sports Leadership for Nigeria’s Olympics Woes

POSTED ON August 12, 2024 •   Politics      BY Benedicta Bassey
The 2023 presidential standard bearer of the Labour Party, Peter Obi

The 2023 presidential standard bearer of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has berated Nigeria’s sports leadership for the massive woes by Nigeria in the just-ended 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Rocketparrot News reports that Nigeria finished with no medal after putting in billions of naira, where nine African countries won medals.

Obi, however, eulogised two Nigerian footballers and Ex-Rangers football Club legends, Stanley Okoronkwo and Harrison Mecha.

Obi said, “How can one explain that a country like Jamaica spent less than 5% of what we spent on our contingents for the Paris Olympics 2024 and won as many as 6 medals, and with our huge financial investments, we could not win even a singular medal? At least, nine African countries won gold but the giant with over 200m people came home without even a bronze.

“We invested about N12 billion into this Olympics, which is almost twice the amount budgeted for the entire Ministry of Science and Technology for this year’s budget. 

"This is over N136 million (about $85,000) spent on each of the 88 Nigerian contingents to the Olympics, and no single medal was won while Jamaica, a nation which spent far less than we did, a total of about $2,300 on each contingent, won 6 medals; 1 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze at the Olympics. We must now question how we made this huge investment, without getting any returns.

“Sad stories like these are only obtainable because we have refused to embrace competence and capacity over favouritism in Nigeria.”

Praising Stanley Okoronkwo and Harrison Mecha, Obi said, “I have consistently advised that such heroes who have made positive impacts in our nation and contributed to our development by utilising their talents and skills be celebrated and appreciated.

“Celebrating such heroic personalities will awaken in our younger generation, the passion to contribute to societal development. Both Okoronkwo and Mecha were football heroes who distinguished themselves in the field of play and contributed to the growth of our sports sector,” he said.

READ ALSO
LASG to expand Red Line Rail service to enhance commuting efficiency
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 10, 2025 0

LAGOS, NIgeria- Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Sunday, made a significant announcemen...

READ ALSO
Adamawa Govt. refutes dismissed REC's claims on 2023 election results
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 10, 2025 0

The Adamawa State Government has refuted the recent assertion made by the dismissed Resident Elector...

READ ALSO
Crisis deepen as NNPP change leadership expelled Kwankwassiya faction
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 8, 2025 0

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has successfully completed its National Convention, endorsing i...

READ ALSO
Creating 31 new states is Ironic and Comical- Shehu Sanni
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 8, 2025 0

A former representative from Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Shehu Sani, along with several Nige...

READ ALSO
Geopolitical Shift: 31 new states proposes across Nigeria's regions
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 7, 2025 0

The House of Representatives Committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution has proposed the creat...

READ ALSO
FCTA allocates N795.6m for 12-Month insurance policy
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 7, 2025 0

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has allocated N795.6 million to secure a 12-mont...

READ ALSO
Tinubu terminates meeting with GAC over Obasa's reinstatement
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 6, 2025 0

President Bola Tinubu unexpectedly terminated a meeting with members of the Governance Advisory Coun...

READ ALSO
Shettima launches DMO supervisory board to enhance fiscal, monetary policy coordination
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 6, 2025 0

Vice President Kashim Shettima has launched the Supervisory Board of the Debt Management Office (DMO...

OUR CHANNELS:

Penalty points system activates for traffic offenders- FRSC
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 11, 2025 0

ABUJA, Nigeria (NAN) - The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), corps marshal, Shehu Mohammed, has orde...


Businessman kills friend in Ikoyi-police
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 10, 2025 0

LAGOS,Nigeria - The Nigerian Police have apprehended a murder suspect in Lagos. The individual, iden...


LASG to expand Red Line Rail service to enhance commuting efficiency
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 10, 2025 0

LAGOS, NIgeria- Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Sunday, made a significant announcemen...


Domestic refiners challenge crude producers over lack of allocations
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 10, 2025 0

Access to crude oil for domestic refiners, including modular refineries, has remained nearly nonexis...


Adamawa Govt. refutes dismissed REC's claims on 2023 election results
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 10, 2025 0

The Adamawa State Government has refuted the recent assertion made by the dismissed Resident Elector...


NECA raises alarm over 4% customs administration charge
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 10, 2025 0

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has expressed its worries regarding the...


Nasarawa University set for indefinite strike on Monday
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 10, 2025 0

Academic and non-academic personnel of higher education institutions in Nasarawa State, operating un...


UNICEF Urges Kano Govt. to intensify polio combat, routine immunisation efforts
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 12, 2025 0

KADUNA, Nigeria (NAN) - The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged the Kano state g...


Kebbi Govt. prepares for mass wedding on february 27
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 10, 2025 0

The Kebbi state government has started preparations for a mass wedding set to take place on February...


Katsina police arrest two kidnappers, other criminals
BY Abiodun Saheed Omodara February 8, 2025 0

KATSINA, Nigeria- The Katsina State Police Command has taken into custody two alleged kidnappers who...


More Articles

Load more...

Menu