Ogun condemns protest
President Bola Tinubu is expected in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, today, to declare the 22nd National Sports Festival closed.
 
The Guardian learnt yesterday that President Tinubu, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima during the opening ceremony on May 18, is expected at today’s closing ceremony alongside the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and his counterpart from Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, among others.
 
After an early morning protest by athletes representing Ogun State over alleged non-payment of camp allowance, which disrupted the Games for over eight hours, yesterday, activities resumed in the afternoon.
 
Ogun State government described as regrettable the protest staged by some athletes representing the state at the ongoing National Sports Festival over delayed allowances.
 
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, the government expressed its disappointment, stating that the protest was inconsistent with the values and objectives the state upholds.
 
He noted that the athletes acted out of impatience, as all necessary arrangements had been concluded for the payment of their allowances on Tuesday.
 
“Governor Dapo Abiodun remains deeply sensitive and committed to the welfare of all participants at the festival. There is no circumstance under which he would allow Ogun athletes to suffer or be neglected.
 
“The protest earlier today (yesterday) by a few athletes is not only unfortunate but also uncalled for. It stands in stark contrast to the immense success the state has recorded in hosting the festival-from the grand opening ceremony to the impressive performance of Team Ogun,” the statement continued.
 
He further disclosed that the payment of allowances had already commenced, with athletes receiving bank alerts as scheduled.
 
“Those who protested did so in error. It was a clear case of impatience,” he concluded.
 
Meanwhile, defending champions, Team Delta is looking forward to receiving its ninth title today.
 
Since the return to democracy in 1999, Team Delta has won the National Sports Festival title eight times in 10 appearances.  The official medals table released late Tuesday night revealed that Team Delta has 92 gold, 59 silver, and 75 bronze medals, but an official at the collation centre told The Guardian yesterday morning that Delta’s gold medals haul is above 104.
 
But there seems to be an interesting race between the host, Ogun State, and Team Bayelsa in the battle for the second position.
 
Per the official medals table released late on Tuesday night showed that Team Bayelsa is in second position with 64 gold, 42 silver, and 49 bronze, with Ogun in third place with 53 gold, 44 silver and 52 bronze.
 
Team Ogun harvested a lot of medals on Tuesday night, including Scrabble, where they emerged overall winners with eight medals, consisting of four gold, three silver, and a bronze medal.
 
The Prince Dapo Abiodun team won three gold, one silver, and one bronze medals in the singles and doubles events. Their efforts yielded an additional gold in the Intermediate category through the efforts of African Youth champions David Ojih and Hakeem Ogundokun.
 
And just days after a team from Ogun State, Remo Stars, emerged as Nigeria’s Premier Football League champions, Team Ogun won the Men’s football event, beating Team Kwara by 4-1 in the final watched by the largest crowd ever recorded at the recently upgraded MKO Abiola Sports Arena. Team IJA (National U17 Boys) clinched the football bronze medals after defeating Team Kaduna 2-0 in the third-place match played at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on Tuesday.
 
Just before the men’s football final, Team Delta women’s football team won the gold medal, beating the Invited Junior Athletes Team (National U17 Boys) 5-4 in a penalty shootout at the MKO Abiola Stadium Abeokuta.
 
The match ended goalless after 90 minutes, and it went straight into a penalty shootout.