Minister Abdulahi dismisses Baribote
by Ibitoye Shittu 03 January 2013, 20:55
Nigeria's Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdulahi has responded to the allegations leveled against him by the ousted Nigeria Premier League (NPL) Chairman, Victor Rumson Baribote.
Baribote who was last year December kicked out as the NPL Chairman accused the Sports Minister for master minding his removal.
He also claimed that the Minister was responsible for the melee between the club owners and the sacked board.
The Sports Minister exclusively revealed to supersport.com that he was innocent on the removal of the Baribote led-board, adding that the decision was solely made by the 19 club owners' representatives that attended the 7th annual congress of the NPL last year in Abuja.
“I have no right to remove Baribote as the NPL Chairman, but it was the decision of the club owners who came together and agreed at the congress that he must be removed for the reasons best known to them, and I was not the one who financed them or told them to do so as claimed by Baribote.
“I have no club in the NPL and what does his removal got to do with me? I would advise him to go back for truce with the club owners because they were the ones who appointed and removed him,” he explained to supersport.com.
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) also reacted on the lack of sponsorship for the apex league in Nigeria and efforts he has made to rescue the situation.
“Glo said in their report that the Nigerian league is worthless, and I was mad, then I asked why were they fighting to get the sponsorship deal when they knew it's worthless.
“Baribote knew I was protecting and supporting him and his board to get the deal done.
“Honestly, it was Total Promotions that won the sponsorship deal, but when the crisis started I had to call Glo for discussion. But unfortunately, it was as a result of Baribote's selfish interest in the Glo's N650 Million bid that made me ordered Glo to hold on.
“I have no issues with Baribote and I would advise him to support the Interim Management Committee as we must focus on what is fundamental and it is then we would move forward in sports development in Nigeria,” he concluded
