President of
Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Engr
Habu Gumel is singing Hossana in the highest following a rancour free election
of the Committee held on Thursday in Yola, Adamawa State.
Gumel who was returned unopposed described
the successful election as a good omen noting that rancour should not even be
found in the dictionary of sports as it distracts not just administration of
the industry but also the athletes who are the main actors in sports.
I am happy
about the election, I was elected unopposed. It was like a family affair and we are all happy
with each other. We are united and we will hit the ground running come January.
On his assessment of outgoing 2018 the former Deputy General Manager (Engineering
Services) Federal Housing Authority (FHA) identified the outing Nigeria’s
women’s bobsled team, consisting the
trio of Akuoma Omeoga, Seun Adigun and Ngozi Onwumere, at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea as a major
achievement, noting that the ladies succeeded boosting the nation’s image by
their participation.
Nigeria was not the
only country that was impressed by the ladies outing but even the International
Olympic Committee (IOC) commended their effort.
Gumel who
reeled out a catalogue of events in which Nigeria will be participating in 2019
running into the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, urged every stakeholder to put hands
on deck to enable the country put up a good show.
He expressed hope the Ministry of Sports and
all stakeholder will cooperate all the way while agreeing with those who opine
that preparation for 2019 and 2020 events should begin in earnest.
Close
watchers of events in the sports industry however say the every stakeholder
must intensify prayers ahead of the 2019 election as its outcome and post-election
activities will determine to a great extent the way forward for the country and
its athletes.
A sports enthusiast who simply identified
himself as Saheed, expressed delight
that the election went without rancour. "It is good to hear that the NOC
election went without the kind of disgrace we witnessed in that of the football
house and even the Basketball federation both of which put the nation in bad
light.
This is good
and worthy of commendation. However we
must all pray for free and fair election next year because its outcome and
aftermath will affect a lot of things including the sports industry.
You can hardly post anything on social media
today without getting a barrage of attacks by those who don't share your opinion
as if it has become an offence to have a different opinion.
It tells you how polarised the nation has
become with virtually everybody turning into an attack dog and getting agitated
and the slightest provocation we need prayers and we need to imbibe the Olympic
spirit," he submitted
The New NOC
Exco has a brand new PRO in Femi Adetula who replaced incumbent Tony Ubani who
stepped aside after back to back tenure.
Adetula was picked ahead of former PRO Tony Nezianya who incidentally
stepped down for Ubani in 2010.
New NOC TEAM
Engr Habu
Gumel -President
Solomon Ogba
- 1st Vice
Francis
Orbih-2nd Vice
Tikon
Ishaya-3rd Vice
Banji
Oladapo -Sec Gen
Mohammed
Abdullahi -Deputy Sec Gen
Bappa Aliyu-
Treasurer
Femi
Adetula-PRO
Col Sam
Ahmedu (Force Member
