Facts have emerged as to why Minister of Youth and sports Development Chief Sunday Dare stayed away from the closing ceremony of the Edo 2020 National sports Festival which ended on Wednesday.
Tribunesport reliably gathered that due to the antics of the Edo State Deputy Governor and the hostile attitude of the host state since last week, the Minister decided to cancel his appearance at the closing ceremony.
Last Wednesday, hostilities got to a head with the threat by Edo state to shut down the Festival, throwing out Staff of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development from the Main Organizing Committee (MOC) Secretariat at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on the orders of the Deputy Governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu after security men stormed the place in a commando style.
Though later resolved, the Deputy Governor continued to heat up the place demanding for money from the Federal Government. But documents confirmed that what the Edo State government presented to the Ministry was a plea for assistance, which it promised to consider. What the Federal Government promised to consider was not a pledge, neither a loan as no agreement was ever signed.
However, the Deputy Governor had gone about it in a manner which made some stakeholders of the just concluded fiesta expressing concerns that “the Deputy Governor was misinforming people that the Federal Government owes the Edo government.”
Further information available to Tribunesports showed that the deputy governor had at a meeting with the federal ministry of youth and Sports officials lee by its permanent secretary used unprintable words against the minister which did not go down well with the directors at the meeting but due to the respect they had for the Petm.Sec they didn’t respond.
“The deputy governor was rude to the minister at the meeting we held at the LOC Secretariat but since our boss was in attendance, we couldn’t reply him.We never had an agreement to give them money and if we do give them.money,other states hostingbwill also request and that is not the idea”,the source who is a top director in d ministry said.
Tribunesports also observed that the Deputy Governor who also double as the Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the Edo 2020 did not recognise the minister in his closing ceremony remarks while speaking Wednesday night but paid glowing tribute to the former minister of youth and sport Solomon Dalung who was invited by the Edo state govt. This confirmed there is love lost between the Edo govt and the Presidency.
An unconfirmed information has it that some group of people have been mobilised by Edo Govt to boo the minister at the closing ceremony.
“We are aware of the plan to boo the minister and once we got wind of this, the minister decided to stay away.Already the deputy governor had embarrassed the country by his call to stop the games not minding the feelings of the athletes.
When contacted for his reaction through the CPS to the deputy Governor, messages sent to him was not responded to as at the time of Filling this report.
Note Sir
Am on my way now,but will send the response of the deputy governor once he responded.
