Ogba, Nesiama blow hot overreport of retirement from athletics

By Gowon Akpodonor

Former President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) now First Vice President of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), Chief Solomon Ogba, has described as ‘misleading’, the report of his retirement from athletics.

Also, former AFN Technical Director, who is a current board member of the Federation, Commodore Omatseye Nesiama (rtd), has described the report as ‘shame’ and ‘huge joke.’

An online report had revealed on Friday that the AFN Congress held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday, had retired Ogba alongside former Presidents of the body, Shehu Ibrahim Gusau, current First Vice President, Tafida Gadzama, former Technical Director, who is also a member of the current board, Commodore Omatseye Nesiama (rtd) and a former secretary General of the body, Mrs Maria Worphil.

According to report, the AFN Congress re-affirmed the disqualification of Ogba and four other members who had served for three terms on the board of the Federation from contesting for a fourth time.

However, Ogba told The Guardian on Friday that he was unhappy with the report saying: “How was I retired? Was I thinking of coming back to AFN? I was present at the congress and it went very well.”

Speaking further, Ogba, a former Commissioner for Sports in Delta State said: “There was nothing like people being retired. The consensus at the Congress was that of a maximum three terms of four years. The online report about me and others was misleading.”

On his part, Nesiama said: “It is a shame. I take it as a joke. How can they bar a board member? Where did they derive that inspiration from? Even in World Athletics (WA), there is no limit to the tenure of Council members, which equates our Board members. I hope they don’t get the AFN into a prolonged battle.”

Nesiama added: “That can relate with the President and not for board members. Let the congress take cue from WA. It is my prerogative to contest if I want, and see whether people want me because of my pedigree. I cannot and should not be barred in a sane and fair system.”