…pleads with Ministry, AFN not to dump Puma kits
According to the Guardian report, embattled former President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) Ibrahim Gusau wants reconciliation with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development as the AFN.
Gusau’s newfound conciliatory disposition is coming after seizing the password of the federation for over a year and turning himself into the sole administrator of the federation and jeopardizing Nigeria’s relay team’s participation at the Poland world relay by sending an email to World Athletics that Nigeria will not participate.
He had also instituted multiple court cases against the Minister, the Ministry and the federal government but now wants reconciliation.
But the Guardian of May 6, 2021 reports that, “Meanwhile, embattled AFN President, Ibrahim Shehu Gusau has appealed to the sports ministry and his fellow board members to reconsider their stance on the Puma kits.
“It will be sad for Team Nigeria to abandon the Puma kits as our athletes prepare for the Tokyo Olympics Games. Even if we offend God, we beg for forgiveness. We are humans. Let us put behind what happened in the past and work towards the progress of our great country. Puma gave Nigeria kits worth over $2.5 million for four years and we should make use of them, especially now that there is no money in the country. I have instructed the Technical Director to release the Puma kits for our athletes so that they will appear in uniform at the U.S. Relays and at the Tokyo Olympics. I am ready to work with them,” Gusau told The Guardian.
Simply to protect the deal he had with Puma Gusau is seeking reconciliation while in the past he has shunned several attempts at reconciliation. Gusau took the government to court. Gusau has been charged by the IG of Police and is now facing trial for criminal breach of trust, theft and funds diversion.
Gusau refused to sign the resolution reached by the committee of Confederation of African Athletics and World Athletics in April that would have solved and reconciled the parties.
His prevarication has left analysts questioning the kind of reconciliation Gusau has in mind with some saying he wants what has not given.
